confounding

USAGE SUMMARY

"confounding" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that is confusing or perplexing. For example, "The confounding complexity of the math problem made it difficult to solve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The shadow science minister has held the seat since 2001, but with a gradually decreasing vote each election, confounding the theory of beneficial incumbency.

The Guardian

Confounding theories about the rising tide of depression and the withering effect of economic rout, the Ipsos Mori survey of more than 16,000 people worldwide found that 77% were happy, a rate that rose to 88% in Sweden, 85% in Australia and 83% in the US.

The Guardian

A decade ago the idea of a World Cup played in a Qatari June in temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) would have been laughable but the country's carbon‑neutral, fully air‑conditioned stadiums and training arenas are proving criticism confounding.

The Guardian - Sport

Similarly, most studies are plagued by confounding variables such as not observing the quality of hospital management.

The Guardian

But Michelle was also caught in conversation with Thorning-Schmidt herself, confounding those always eager to comment on the first marriage.

The Guardian

Now, people were staying home.All panics are confounding for outsiders, but this one was especially odd because a key piece of evidence cited by the rumour-mongers is that border officers are on high alert in El Paso.

The Economist

And it will inspire more start-ups, confounding those who fret that the online-sharing revolution is running out of steam.The biggest test for Twitter will be to show it can expand revenue fast as a public company without alienating its hundreds of millions of users.

The Economist

A generation later, Marlene Dumas is keeping painting alive and confounding the naysayers.Now 61, Ms Dumas was brought up in apartheid South Africa on a wine farm near Cape Town.

The Economist

Now, despite a flurry of diplomatic gaffes when he was merely prime minister, the tycoon turned politician seems to be confounding them.This week he enjoyed basking in the global sunlight at a meeting between NATO leaders and the American and Russian presidents at a seaside airbase near Rome.

The Economist

Magnetic-resonance imagers are thus, in a manner of speaking, a way of reading minds and are therefore as beloved by advertisers as by neuroscientists.Participants were asked to watch the first 30 minutes of "Matchstick Men", a film about con men chosen because it features many smoking scenes but lacks scenes showing the possibly confounding variables of alcohol use, violence and sex.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The reading skills of black and Latino 17-year-olds were nearly identical to those of white 13-year-olds.In this section A hard man to demonise Sizing up the dragon The darker side Chastity's champions When sex is unfair Muddy waters Humans make mistakes Now for the good news ReprintsAll this is true, but self-confounding.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confounding" to describe variables in research, ensure you clearly define the variable and explain how it might affect the study's results. For example, "The study controlled for confounding variables such as age and socioeconomic status."

Common error

Avoid using "confounding" when you simply mean "confusing". "Confounding" implies a more active disruption or contradiction of expectations, rather than just a lack of clarity. For example, say "The plot was confusing" instead of "The plot was confounding" if you only want to express that the plot was difficult to understand.

Linguistic Context

The word "confounding" functions primarily as a verb in its present participle form (-ing) or as an adjective. It describes something that is causing confusion or contradicting expectations. As Ludwig AI also suggests, it can often highlight the frustration or invalidation of assumptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "confounding" is a versatile word, functioning as a verb (present participle) or an adjective, predominantly used to express surprise or contradiction of expectations. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is very common in the news and media and science, with neutral register. When writing, ensure you're using "confounding" to indicate a true contradiction or frustration of expectations, and not just simple confusion. Consider alternatives like "puzzling" or "baffling" if the situation involves mere lack of clarity, not a direct contradiction of expectations. Authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian frequently employ "confounding" in their reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

puzzling

Focuses on the difficulty in understanding something, highlighting its mysterious nature.

baffling

Emphasizes the state of being confused or perplexed, suggesting a lack of clarity.

perplexing

Indicates a state of bewilderment and uncertainty, often due to complexity.

bewildering

Stresses the disorienting and confusing nature of something, causing a loss of bearings.

contradicting

Highlights the act of opposing or going against expectations or established ideas.

thwarting

Focuses on the act of preventing someone from accomplishing something or hindering progress.

disproving

Emphasizes demonstrating that something is false or incorrect, often in response to a claim.

negating

Highlights the act of rendering something ineffective or nullifying its impact.

undermining

Suggests weakening or eroding the foundation of something, often subtly.

belieing

Indicates that something gives a false impression, concealing the true nature of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "confounding" in a sentence?

"Confounding" can be used as a verb (present participle) or an adjective. For example, "The results were confounding expectations" (verb) or "The confounding variables made the study difficult" (adjective).

What words can I use instead of "confounding"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "puzzling", "baffling", or "perplexing".

Which is correct, "confounding" or "confusing"?

Both "confounding" and "confusing" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Confounding" implies more than just confusion; it suggests a contradiction or frustration of expectations. "Confusing" simply means lacking clarity.

What's the difference between "confounding variable" and "intervening variable"?

A "confounding variable" is an extraneous factor that affects both the independent and dependent variables. An "intervening variable" explains the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Both can affect research results, but they play different roles.