Confound is the strongest of the three words. Abash is second. Confuse
is the last.
The Websters' Unabridged Dictionary clearly delineates the boundary among
the three words:
To Abash, Confuse, Confound;
Abash is a stronger word than confuse, but not so strong as confound;
We are abashed when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling
sense of inferiority; as, Peter was abashed in the presence of those who
are greatly his superiors;
We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we
lose clearness of thought and selpossession; Thus, a witness is often
confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be
confused in entering a room full of strangers;
We are confounded when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something
wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc;, so that we have nothing to say;
Thus, a criminal is usually confounded at the discovery of his guilt;
Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say.
Fill-up the blanks in the following sentences selecting abash / confuse / confound:
1. The entire USA was ___ on the 9/11.'
2. 'Why should I feel ___ to act in explicit sex scenes?', the fledgling actress says.
3. I do not want to ____ you with computer jargon.
4. He felt ___, when he saw the White House interiors.
5. Why do Government Officials un____ly seek bribes?
6. The defence lawyer is trying to ____ the witness.
7. Algebra ____ me.
8. Amongst men who ___ their ideas with words, there must be endless disputes. (A proverb).
9. The child wept in ____ when it saw a stranger.
10. The G.D.P. figures ___ and ____ me.
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