Conflate: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
conflate
[kษnหfleษชt ]
Definition
combine ideas
To conflate means to combine two or more different ideas, concepts, or texts into one, often resulting in confusion or misunderstanding. This action can lead to a lack of clarity since the unique characteristics of the individual items are lost in the merging process. It is commonly used in discussions about literature, philosophy, and opinion. When one conflates two distinct issues, it can mislead or confuse audiences about the topics being discussed.
Synonyms
blend, combine, fuse, merge, mix.
Examples of usage
- The article tends to conflate social issues with economic policies.
- In his speech, he conflated criticism of the government with personal attacks.
- It is important not to conflate these two theories, as they address different aspects of the problem.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the Latin 'conflata', meaning 'to blow together' or 'to combine'.
- It was first used in English in the late 19th century, deriving from the combination of 'con-' (together) and 'flare' (to blow).
Psychology
- In cognitive psychology, conflation can lead to misconceptions, as merging ideas often blurs their distinct meanings.
- People may conflate emotions with memories, affecting how they process experiences, which can influence mental health.
Politics
- Conflation is often used in political discourse, where distinct issues may be combined to simplify arguments or manipulate opinions.
- It can create confusion, as audiences may be unable to discern the nuances of different topics.
Literature
- Authors sometimes conflate characters or settings to enhance themes, underscoring how intertwined ideas can create richer narratives.
- This technique is seen in satire, where different societal issues are merged to critique or highlight hypocrisy.
Media
- In media, conflating facts can lead to misinformation, as stories combine unrelated events, misleading the audience.
- Itโs important for consumers of news to dissect and differentiate between conflated issues to foster informed opinions.
Translations
Translations of the word "conflate" in other languages:
๐ต๐น fundir
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคเฅเคเฅเคค เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช verschmelzen
๐ฎ๐ฉ menggabungkan
๐บ๐ฆ ะทะปะธะฒะฐัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ ลฤ czyฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ๅไฝตใใ
๐ซ๐ท fusionner
๐ช๐ธ fusionar
๐น๐ท birleลtirmek
๐ฐ๐ท ์ตํฉํ๋ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฏู ุฌ
๐จ๐ฟ slouฤit
๐ธ๐ฐ skombinovaลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๅๅนถ
๐ธ๐ฎ zdruลพiti
๐ฎ๐ธ sameina
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฑัััะบัััั
๐ฌ๐ช แแ แแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ birlษลdirmษk
๐ฒ๐ฝ fusionar
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #32,731 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
- ...
- 32728 placated
- 32729 chilliness
- 32730 pompously
- 32731 conflate
- 32732 democratize
- 32733 enthronement
- 32734 tinny
- ...