Confounds

To 'confound' means to cause surprise or confusion in someone, often by acting against their expectations or plans. It can also mean to prove something wrong or to defeat or foil someone's intentions. When something confounds, it makes something else difficult to understand or explain. Often, 'confounds' describes situations where external or unexpected variables create uncertainty or make it difficult to isolate the true effect of an action or experiment. It suggests an element of being complex, ambiguous, or misleading, introducing an unexpected element of complexity that adds difficulty to the clarity of a subject or task.

Confounds meaning with examples

• The unexpected twist in the plot of the novel completely confounds the readers, making them question everything they thought they knew about the characters and their motivations.
• Despite extensive preparations, the sudden storm confounds the outdoor event, forcing organizers to cancel the event due to public safety concerns. The sudden weather threw off the pre-arranged logistics.
• The contradictory evidence in the case completely confounds the detectives, leaving them unsure about who committed the crime or their true motives; the ambiguity made it difficult to narrow down a suspect.
• The lack of consistent data confounds the scientists, making it nearly impossible for them to establish a clear link between the treatment they are testing and any of its potential outcomes.
• His inconsistent behaviour confounds his friends, leaving them to wonder what he really means and if they can rely on his words or actions in any situation or commitment.