Conflate
/kənˈfleɪt/
verbC1
Definition
To conflate something means to join two or more separate things into one, especially ideas or stories. This can sometimes cause confusion because the different parts lose their original, separate meanings and become mixed together. People often conflate ideas when they think two things are the same, even if they are different.
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⚡ See It in Action
To combine different ideas, texts, or information into one
- •The article conflates two separate historical events, making it hard to understand.
- •People often conflate happiness with success, but they are not the same.
- •The author conflated the characters from two stories into one.
To mix up or confuse things by treating them as the same
- •Don’t conflate facts with opinions when reading news.
- •The teacher warned students not to conflate different scientific theories.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'conflate' like 'mix,' but for ideas or information, not food or objects.
- ✓Picture two rivers joining into one big river, where their waters blend and you can’t easily see which water came from which river.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you remember two different stories as one, and you get details mixed up.
- ✓Sounds like 'con-FLATE' → imagine blowing up (inflating) a balloon that holds many small balloons inside, all combined into one big shape.
- ✓Think of a news report that combines two different events as if they were one story, which can confuse people.
- ✓NOT like 'compare' (looking at two things side by side), conflate means to join them into one.
- ✓NOT like 'confuse' (being unclear), conflate is the action of mixing things, which can cause confusion.
- ✓NOT like 'blend' in cooking (smooth mix), conflate is mixing ideas or information, often incorrectly or carelessly.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Combine: to join things together (Use when the joining is clear and correct)
- •Merge: to come together and form one (Use when two things naturally become one)
- •Confuse: to make unclear or mixed up (Use when the result is unclear or mistaken)
- •Blend: to mix smoothly (Use when the mixture is smooth and even, often for colors or flavors)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix 'con-' (together) + root 'flate' (from Latin 'flare,' meaning to blow)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'conflare,' meaning to blow together or fuse
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe joining or fusing things by blowing air; later used metaphorically for joining ideas or texts
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in writing and speech to describe mixing ideas, information, or stories, especially when it causes confusion or loss of clarity
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When can conflating ideas be helpful, and when can it be harmful?
•How do you know if two things should be kept separate or can be conflated?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The writer conflated two different events ___, which made the story ___ to follow.
2.People sometimes conflate feelings of anger and sadness, but they are ___ emotions.
3.When you conflate facts with opinions, it can ___ the truth and make understanding ___.
4.The teacher asked students not to conflate the two scientific theories because they have ___ explanations.
5.News reports that conflate separate incidents can lead to ___ among the audience.
6.Authors often conflate characters from different stories to create ___ new ones.
7.You should be careful not to conflate similar words ___ because they can have different meanings.