muddle
1 of 2verb
mud·dle ˈmə-dᵊl 
muddled; muddling ˈməd-liŋ
ˈmə-dᵊl-iŋ
transitive verb
1
: to make turbid or muddy
muddled the brook with his splashings
2
: to befog or stupefy (see stupefy sense 1) especially with liquor
The drink muddled him and his voice became loud and domineering.
3
: to mix confusedly
muddles the household accounts
4
: to make a mess of : bungle
muddled themselves into the most indefensible positions
A. N. Whitehead
A. N. Whiteheadintransitive verb
: to think or act in a confused aimless way
She muddled along for a year before going to college.
muddler
ˈməd-lər
noun ˈmə-dᵊl-ər
muddle
2 of 2noun
1
: a state of especially mental confusion
2
: a confused mess
muddly
ˈməd-lē
adjective ˈmə-dᵊl-ē
Synonyms
Verb
- addle
- baffle
- bamboozle
- beat
- befog
- befuddle
- bemuse
- bewilder
- buffalo
- confound
- confuse
- discombobulate
- disorient
- flummox
- fox
- fuddle
- get
- gravel
- maze
- muddy
- mystify
- perplex
- pose
- puzzle
- vex
Noun
- chance-medley
- chaos
- confusion
- disarrangement
- disarray
- dishevelment
- disorder
- disorderedness
- disorderliness
- disorganization
- free-for-all
- havoc
- heck
- hell
- jumble
- mare's nest
- mess
- messiness
- misorder
- muss
- shambles
- snake pit
- tumble
- welter
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts Noun His papers were in a muddle. His mind was a muddle.
Recent Examples on the Web Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 TikToks has demonstrated that parasocial relationships — one-sided emotional investments in public figures — can muddle appropriate boundaries online. Morgan Sung, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 Lightly muddle the coffee beans (crack beans only, do not grind), then stir the muddled beans with rum over ice. Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 The ultimate hands-on drink station—a muddle-your-own mojito bar! Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2022 Gently muddle the mint leaves and cucumber in a copper mug. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 In a shaker tin, muddle the strawberry with agave syrup and lemon juice. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 One video showing how to muddle these herbs into a drinkable tea has reached more than 250,000 views. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 The Democratic Governors Association and Pritzker are also spending ads in the Republican primary trying to muddle things up — and elevate Bailey to make Pritzker’s road to reelection easier. Amber Phillips, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 From this muddle of anger, confusion and regret, though, a movement was born. Dan Barry, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2022 Jablonka’s desire to trace all the world’s hierarchies, injustices, and conflicts back to one prehistoric fit of reproductive jealousy leads to a good deal of muddle as things proceed. Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 And third, existing ESG ratings are a muddle of data—a pudding without a clear theme. David Meyer, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 Since the summer, however—and particularly after the disastrous, though ultimately justified, withdrawal from Afghanistan—Democrats have been stuck in a muddle. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 18 May 2022 The show’s final sequences have been forced into a curious and not entirely persuasive moral; then again, a muddle of things may in the end be the best we mortals can expect. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 In a cocktail glass, muddle cucumber, 2 rosemary sprigs, simple syrup, and lime juice. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 The result is a muddle that should have been limited to an invitation-only workshop. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 See More
Verb
This can cloud a reader’s understanding of a study by overestimating its importance or simply muddle one’s understanding with excess words. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 TikToks has demonstrated that parasocial relationships — one-sided emotional investments in public figures — can muddle appropriate boundaries online. Morgan Sung, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 Lightly muddle the coffee beans (crack beans only, do not grind), then stir the muddled beans with rum over ice. Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 The ultimate hands-on drink station—a muddle-your-own mojito bar! Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2022 Gently muddle the mint leaves and cucumber in a copper mug. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 In a shaker tin, muddle the strawberry with agave syrup and lemon juice. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 One video showing how to muddle these herbs into a drinkable tea has reached more than 250,000 views. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 The Democratic Governors Association and Pritzker are also spending ads in the Republican primary trying to muddle things up — and elevate Bailey to make Pritzker’s road to reelection easier. Amber Phillips, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 Noun
More on College Sports From Power 5 to Mighty 2: As the Big Ten and the SEC consolidate power, some fear the rest of college sports could become a muddle. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 From this muddle of anger, confusion and regret, though, a movement was born. Dan Barry, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2022 Jablonka’s desire to trace all the world’s hierarchies, injustices, and conflicts back to one prehistoric fit of reproductive jealousy leads to a good deal of muddle as things proceed. Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 And third, existing ESG ratings are a muddle of data—a pudding without a clear theme. David Meyer, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 Since the summer, however—and particularly after the disastrous, though ultimately justified, withdrawal from Afghanistan—Democrats have been stuck in a muddle. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 18 May 2022 The show’s final sequences have been forced into a curious and not entirely persuasive moral; then again, a muddle of things may in the end be the best we mortals can expect. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 In a cocktail glass, muddle cucumber, 2 rosemary sprigs, simple syrup, and lime juice. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 July 2022 The result is a muddle that should have been limited to an invitation-only workshop. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
probably from obsolete Dutch moddelen, from Middle Dutch, from modde mud; akin to Middle Low German mudde
First Known Use
Verb
1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing muddle
Kids Definition
muddle 1 of 2
verb
mud·dle ˈmə-dᵊl
muddled; muddling
1
: to be or cause to be confused or bewildered
"Haven't I so muddled their brains they want to turn you loose?" Sid Fleishman, The Whipping Boy
Sid Fleishman, The Whipping Boy2
: to mix up in a confused manner
They muddled the story.
3
: to think or proceed in a confused way
I somehow muddled through the task.
muddle
2 of 2noun
: a state of confusion
muddle 1 of 2
noun
1
as in jumble
a state in which everything is out of order things at the newly built school were all in a muddle on opening day Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- jumble
- mess
- confusion
- chaos
- havoc
- hell
- disarray
- tangle
- disorder
- messiness
- disorganization
- shambles
- disorderliness
- heck
- disarrangement
- clutter
- welter
- tumble
- muss
- snake pit
- dishevelment
- maze
- riot
- labyrinth
- anarchy
- misorder
- free-for-all
- mishmash
- snarl
- chance-medley
- disorderedness
- morass
- mare's nest
- maelstrom
- hodgepodge
- misrule
- shuffle
- web
- lawlessness
- knot
- bollix
- litter
- motley
- storm
- miscellany
- medley
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- order
- system
- orderliness
- plan
- pattern
- method
2
as in daze
a state of mental confusion I was in such a muddle after the accident that I didn't know where I was Synonyms & Similar Words
- daze
- haze
- fog
- bewilderment
- stupor
- perplexity
- spin
- befuddlement
- trance
- reverie
- dazedness
- paralysis
- delirium
- malaise
- cloudiness
- swoon
- puzzlement
- fogginess
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- alertness
- levelheadedness
3
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle Synonyms & Similar Words
- confusion
- tangle
- fog
- perplexity
- bewilderment
- befuddlement
- discombobulation
- bafflement
- bamboozlement
- maze
- mystification
- confusedness
- head-scratching
- bemusement
- puzzlement
- discomfort
- distress
- embarrassment
- distraction
- bewilderedness
- upset
- commotion
- discomfiture
- whirl
- dismay
- mortification
- turmoil
- agitation
- disquiet
- perturbation
- chagrin
- abashment
- disturbance
- fluster
- flurry
- dither
- disconcertment
- fuss
- stew
- bother
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- certainty
- confidence
- conviction
- assurance
- certitude
- positiveness
- sureness
4
as in variety
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves Synonyms & Similar Words
- jumble
- variety
- assortment
- medley
- collage
- clutter
- mishmash
- hodgepodge
- scramble
- shuffle
- hotchpotch
- tangle
- blend
- jungle
- mélange
- litter
- botch
- patchwork
- stew
- farrago
- amalgam
- hash
- potpourri
- menagerie
- salad
- pastiche
- ragbag
- smorgasbord
- agglomeration
- gallimaufry
- miscellanea
- rummage
- motley
- montage
- miscellany
- welter
- tumble
- salmagundi
- agglomerate
- ragout
- mixed bag
- gumbo
- mess
- accumulation
- grab bag
- jambalaya
- combination
- alphabet soup
- olio
- crazy quilt
- patchwork quilt
- detritus
- aggregate
- chaos
- macédoine
- aggregation
- conglomerate
- notions
- confusion
- conglomeration
- disarray
- morass
- omnium-gatherum
- olla podrida
- fusion
- sundries
- compound
- composite
- disorder
- imbroglio
- catchall
- disarrangement
- shambles
- oddments
- admixture
- snarl
- commixture
- intermixture
- mix-up
- alloy
- bollix
- odds and ends
- dog's breakfast
- knot
muddle
2 of 2verb
1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice Synonyms & Similar Words
- confuse
- baffle
- puzzle
- bewilder
- perplex
- muddy
- fuddle
- befuddle
- maze
- confound
- mystify
- embarrass
- fluster
- discombobulate
- bemuse
- rattle
- vex
- bother
- bamboozle
- gravel
- disturb
- flummox
- disorient
- upset
- addle
- befog
- get
- pose
- buffalo
- stun
- fox
- unsettle
- blow one's mind
- beat
- stick
- disquiet
- distress
- disconcert
- stump
- agitate
- discomfit
- discomfort
- nonplus
- go to one's head
- mislead
- dismay
- unhinge
- delude
- deceive
- fool
- trick
- weird out
- discompose
- faze
- abash
- humbug
- mortify
- chagrin
- discountenance
- perturb
- misguide
- snow
- beguile
- gull
- hoax
- dupe
- hoodwink
- cozen
- string along
- take in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assure
- satisfy
- inform
- reassure
- enlighten
2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupt
- jumble
- confuse
- shuffle
- disarray
- disorder
- disturb
- scramble
- disarrange
- disorganize
- upset
- tousle
- tangle
- derange
- muss
- hash
- disjoint
- discompose
- dislocate
- snarl
- dishevel
- tumble
- clutter
- rumple
- embroil
- unsettle
- mix (up)
- perturb
- entangle
- mess (up)
- agitate
- stir (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- order
- organize
- tidy
- arrange
- array
- regulate
- dispose
- line
- range
- straighten (up)
- systematize
- align
- line up
- classify
- adjust
- marshal
- codify
- marshall
- fix
- queue
- aline
- draw up
- make up
- systemize
- unscramble
- methodize
- spruce (up)
- groom