What term refers to the confusion of one word with another?

The term that refers to the confusion of one word with another is malapropism. This occurs when a speaker mistakenly uses a word that sounds similar to the intended word but has a completely different meaning. The result is often humorous or nonsensical, as it can create awkward or unintended interpretations. For example, saying "He's the pineapple of politeness" instead of "He's the pinnacle of politeness" is a typical malapropism.

The other terms do not relate to confusing one word with another in the same way. Monopoly refers to exclusive control over a commodity or service, which is unrelated to word usage. A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves describing one thing in terms of another to highlight similarities, but it does not involve confusion. A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or illogical but may contain a truth, which also does not connect to the confusion of words. Thus, malapropism is the most precise term to describe the mix-up of words.