Select the synonym (word closest in meaning) of the verb “confuse” from the following alternatives.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to choose the synonym, or word closest in meaning, of the verb “confuse”. Synonyms test how precisely you understand word meanings and whether you can match them in the correct context. Many competitive exams include such questions to check the depth and range of your English vocabulary.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The word given is “confuse”.
• The options are “explicate”, “perplex”, “mix”, and “divert”.
• The sense of “confuse” tested here is “to cause someone to be unable to think clearly or to feel puzzled”.

Concept / Approach:
In the context of mental state, “confuse” means to make someone unable to understand or to create uncertainty and doubt. The verb “perplex” has a very similar meaning: to make someone feel puzzled or baffled. The other options either mean the opposite (“explicate”) or refer to different actions (“mix” and “divert”) that do not capture the mental sense of puzzlement or lack of clarity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the sense of “confuse” as “to make someone unable to think clearly or to puzzle someone”. Step 2: Consider “perplex”. This verb means to cause someone to feel completely baffled, which is very close to the meaning of “confuse”. Step 3: Examine “explicate”. This means to explain something in detail and make it clearer, which is actually the opposite of confusing someone. Step 4: Look at “mix”. While you can “mix things up” and cause some confusion, “mix” itself is usually used for combining substances or elements, not directly as a synonym for making someone mentally puzzled. Step 5: Check “divert”. This means to change direction or to entertain and distract, not to make someone confused. Step 6: Therefore, “perplex” is the closest direct synonym for “confuse”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare example sentences: “The complicated instructions confused me” and “The complicated instructions perplexed me”. In both cases, the speaker expresses that they felt puzzled and did not understand fully. Replacing “confused” with “perplexed” keeps the meaning almost identical, confirming that they are close synonyms in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• explicate: Means to make something clear or to explain; this is the opposite effect of confusing someone.
• mix: Primarily refers to combining elements and does not directly express the mental state of being puzzled.
• divert: Means to turn aside, distract, or entertain, and is not focused on mental confusion.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted by words like “mix” because they have seen expressions like “mix someone up”, but that is only one specific phrasal use. It is important to match the core dictionary meaning of the single verb, not just one idiomatic phrase. When two words can be interchanged in many sentences without changing the sense, as in “confuse” and “perplex”, they are strong candidates for synonym questions.

Final Answer:
The synonym of “confuse” that best fits the required meaning is perplex.