What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dumbfound
Example
The news of his sudden death dumbfounded me. [dumbfounded: verb]
Example
She was left dumbfounded by the magician's incredible trick. [dumbfounded: adjective]
confound
Example
The complex instructions confounded the new employee. [confounded: verb]
Example
The results of the experiment confounded the researchers. [confounded: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confound is more commonly used than dumbfound in everyday language. Confound is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dumbfound is less common and typically used in informal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dumbfound and confound?
Confound is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while dumbfound is more informal and may not be appropriate in formal settings.
