conflate
UK: kənˈfleɪt | US: kənˈfleɪt
vt. to combine or blend two or more things into one, often resulting in confusion or loss of distinction
conflate = con<together> + flate<blow>
- con<together>: From Latin con-, meaning "together" or "with."
- flate<blow>: From Latin flare, meaning "to blow."
Etymology Origin:
The word conflate originates from Latin conflatus, the past participle of conflare ("to blow together, fuse"). It originally described the literal blending of materials (e.g., metals) by melting or blowing. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to mean the merging of ideas, texts, or concepts, often implying a loss of clarity or accuracy in the process. The imagery of "blowing together" captures the forceful or haphazard nature of such combinations.
The editor warned against conflating two distinct historical events in the article.
Many people conflate happiness with material wealth.
The report conflates data from different years, making it unreliable.
Politicians often conflate complex issues to simplify their arguments.
The movie conflates elements from several myths into a single storyline.