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View synonyms for

muddle

[ muhd-l ]

verb (used with object)

muddled, muddling.
  1. to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,

  2. to cause to become mentally confused.
  3. to cause to become confused or stupid with or as if with an intoxicating drink.
  4. to make muddy or turbid, as water.
    1. to mix, crush, or mash (an ingredient) into a drink, especially with a muddler.
    2. to mix or stir (a cocktail, chocolate, etc.).
  5. Ceramics. to smooth (clay) by rubbing it on glass.


verb (used without object)

muddled, muddling.
  1. to behave, proceed, or think in a confused or aimless fashion or with an air of improvisation:

    Some people just muddle along, waiting for their big break.

noun

  1. the state or condition of being muddled, especially a confused mental state.
  2. a confused, disordered, or embarrassing condition; mess.

    Antonyms:

verb phrase

  1. to achieve a certain degree of success but without much skill, polish, experience, or direction:

    None of us knew much about staging a variety show, so we just had to muddle through.

muddle

/ ˈʌə /

verb

  1. often foll by up to mix up (objects, items, etc); jumble
  2. to confuse
  3. to make (water) muddy or turbulent
  4. to mix or stir (alcoholic drinks, etc)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a state of physical or mental confusion
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܻԲ, adjectivenoun
  • ˈܻԲly, adverb
  • ˈܻ, adjective
  • ˈܻness, noun
  • ˈܻ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ܻ··Ա ܻ··Գ noun
  • ܻ·Բ· adverb
  • ·ܻ· noun verb (used with object) premuddled premuddling
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Word History and Origins

Origin of muddle1

First recorded in 1540–50; mud + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch moddelen “to muddy”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of muddle1

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen to make muddy
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Too often, the desire to unnerve audiences takes priority, resulting in the metaphor being muddled between jump scares and gore.

From

Thursday's developments muddled the timeline for any potential decision on the brothers' fate.

From

The directors’ statements that the film is not political and has no messaging other than realism are further muddled by the final two frames.

From

“It’s all really muddled in chaos, which is sort of the point,” one Forest Service employee told ProPublica.

From

He said Trump's new raft of tariffs that were due to begin on Wednesday could be economically catastrophic, and that the messaging behind them had been muddled.

From

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muddermuddle along