confounding

con·found

 (kən-found′, kŏn-)

tr.v. con·found·ed, con·found·ing, con·founds

1. To cause to become confused or perplexed. See Synonyms at perplex.

2. To fail to distinguish; mix up: Don't confound fiction and fact.

3. To make (something bad) worse: Do not confound the problem by losing your temper.

4. To cause to be ashamed; abash: an invention that confounded the skeptics.

5. Used in mild curses: Confound you!

6.

a. To frustrate or thwart: trivial demands that confounded the peace talks.

b. Archaic To defeat or overthrow (an enemy).

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[Middle English confounden, from Anglo-Norman confundre, from Latin cōnfundere, to mix together, confuse : com-, com- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]

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con·found′er n.

con·found′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

confounding - that confounds or contradicts or confuses contradictory unsupportive - not furnishing support or assistance

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.