confide

verb

con·​fide kən-ˈfīd How to pronounce confide (audio)
confided; confiding
Synonyms of confidenext

intransitive verb

1
: to have confidence : trust
We cannot confide wholly in our own powers.
2
: to show confidence by imparting secrets
confide in a friend

transitive verb

1
: to tell confidentially
He dared not confide the secret to his family.
2
: to give to the care or protection of another : entrust
… do not confide your children to strangers.—Mavis Gallant
confider noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for confide

commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose.

commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Examples of confide in a Sentence

He confided that he was very unhappy with his job. the local SPCA was looking for homes for a number of exotic animals confided to its care
Recent Examples on the Web In person, Galitzine is sweet, self-effacing, reasonably confiding. —Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024 The man, who said his name was Alonzo, soon confided to her that he had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. —Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The controller later confided to a colleague that she had been fatigued at the time and lost focus, the colleague said in an interview. —Sydney Ember, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023 The conversation prepares Palmer to talk to Jonesy, and after flashbacks of Ducky talking to the dead, Jonesy confides that Berger was involved in heroin smuggling in Kabul, and Zawadski went off base looking for evidence. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2024 Many kids confided that seeing the consequences of what happened to Matthew had improved their online safety habits and deterred them from participating in risky activities. —Todd Minor Sr., Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2024 Bill confided the amount to my husband, but also asked him not to tell me. —Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2024 Bill confided the amount to my husband but also asked him not to tell me. —Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024 Her writing on meditation has the snap and intimacy of her early journalism, but all archness has been scrubbed away, and what’s left is a voice that is curious and confiding. —Sasha Weiss, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

early Scots, borrowed from Latin confīdere "to put trust in, have confidence in," from con- con- + fīdere "to trust (in), rely (on)" going back to Indo-European *bhei̯dh- "trust, entrust" — more at faith entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confide was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing confide

Dictionary Entries Near confide

confidante

confide

confide in

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confide. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

confide

verb
con·​fide kən-ˈfīd How to pronounce confide (audio)
confided; confiding
1
: to have confidence : trust
confide in a doctor's skill
2
: to show confidence by telling secrets
confided in her mother
3
: to tell in confidence
confide a secret to a friend
4
: entrust sense 1
confide one's safety to the police
confider noun
Etymology

Middle English confiden "to confide, trust," from early French confider or Latin confidere (both, same meaning), from Latin con-, com- "with, together" and fidere "to trust" — related to faith

More from Merriam-Webster on confide

Nglish: Translation of confide for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of confide for Arabic Speakers

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