confound

What does “confound” mean?

verb.to cause surprise or confusion in someone, especially by acting against their expectations.

SAT Usage

This verb is often found in passages discussing unexpected outcomes or paradoxical situations, particularly in literature or scientific contexts. It emphasizes a deeper level of surprise or bewilderment, suggesting that the result not only contradicts expectations but also challenges understanding, distinguishing it from simpler terms like "surprise" or "confuse," which lack this nuance.

Common Confusions

Confound implies a profound or perplexing surprise that challenges understanding, while confuse usually suggests a lack of clarity or a simple mix-up that does not necessarily provoke deeper thought.

Example Sentences

• Don't confound the situation by yelling.

• His actions confounded the skeptics.

• Confound the lady!

• The sudden change in weather patterns was enough to confound even the most experienced meteorologists, who struggled to explain the unusual phenomenon.

Word Parts: How to Remember “confound”

Break “confound” into its parts: co- (together, with). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: co- together, with (Latin)