confusing answer

USAGE SUMMARY

"confusing answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an answer that is hard to understand. For example: Despite asking for clarification, I still didn't understand the professor's confusing answer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Ben Nelson offers up a confusing answer that confuses me, and confuses Chris Wallace and that's probably because Ben Nelson's one of the dumbest men in government.

Huffington Post

Cain gave an even more confusing answer to Fox News' John Stossel in July.

Huffington Post

Rule 3 is broken to create humor when we reply to an embarrassing questions with an obviously vague or confusing answer.

SEP

[Example of confusing answer in relation to antibiotic resistance and chronic disease] "Antibiotic resistance is, maybe it depends on how the patient expresses himself because many patients, when they have a big problem, a serious disease, they tend to be shy to express and that is a source for the disease to be chronic".

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But investigators said they became suspicious when he gave confusing answers about his hometown.

The New York Times

They reported that the president "mangled facts and sentences," and gave "rambling, sometimes confusing" answers, while expressing concerns about his age and health.

Vice

The Huffington Post recently chatted with Andy Juett, producer of T.J. Miller's "Denver" music video that premiered at Red Rocks in July and one of the rotating stand-up comic hosts at The Grapes of Rad for confusing answers about so many things and also some legitimate answers about the show.

Huffington Post

If you are confused, answer any of your own questions by getting help from your classmates or teacher.

WikiHow

They got confused answers — an acknowledgment from Kerry that there might be "downstream" benefits; assertions that the opposition was on the whole getting more moderate and "more defined by its adherence to some, you know, democratic process and to an all-inclusive, minority-protecting constitution," never mind that one of the groups was an Al Qaeda affiliate.

The New Yorker

"Several of those items were poorly worded, confusing and answered incorrectly by large numbers of students," Dr. Brosnan said.

The New York Times

His silences, the drubbing of the desk and occasional forgetfulness were agonising, as were the attempts by James Murdoch to rescue his father when he stumbled, or was too confused to answer Labour MP Tom Watson's questions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "confusing answer", ensure the context clearly indicates why the answer is confusing. Provide specific examples or details to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that an answer is "confusing" without explaining why. Provide details about what makes the answer difficult to understand to give your statement more impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confusing answer" functions as a noun phrase, where "confusing" is an adjective modifying the noun "answer". It describes the quality of the answer itself. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confusing answer" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a response that is difficult to understand. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While it appears most frequently in news, science and wiki sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. To enhance clarity when using this phrase, provide specific reasons why the answer is confusing and consider alternatives like "unclear response" or "ambiguous response" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclear response

Emphasizes the lack of clarity in the reply.

vague reply

Highlights the lack of specificity in the response.

ambiguous response

Suggests the answer has multiple possible interpretations.

perplexing response

Indicates the answer causes bewilderment.

misleading answer

Focuses on the deceptive aspect of the answer, rather than just its lack of clarity.

muddled response

Highlights the disorganized and unclear nature of the response.

disconcerting response

Highlights the unsettling aspect of the answer.

bewildering explanation

Focuses on the explanatory aspect and its confusing nature.

incomprehensible explanation

Emphasizes the lack of understandability in the explanation.

unintelligible response

Suggests the response is impossible to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "confusing answer" in a sentence?

You can use "confusing answer" to describe a response that is difficult to understand. For example, "The politician's "misleading answer" only made the situation worse".

What's the difference between "confusing answer" and "vague answer"?

While both describe unsatisfactory responses, "confusing answer" suggests the answer is difficult to follow or understand, while "vague answer" implies the answer lacks detail or specificity. A "vague reply" may be easy to understand but provides little information.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "confusing answer"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "unclear response", "ambiguous response", or "perplexing response".

Is it appropriate to describe someone's explanation as a "confusing answer"?

Yes, it is appropriate if the explanation is genuinely difficult to understand. However, be mindful of your tone and avoid being overly critical. You might rephrase it as "the explanation was a little "bewildering explanation"" to soften the critique.