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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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Other Word Forms

  • muddledness noun
  • muddlement noun
  • muddlingly adverb
  • premuddle noun
  • ˈܻԲ adjective
  • ˈܻԲly adverb
  • ˈܻ adjective
  • ˈܻness noun
  • ˈܻ adjective
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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.

"There is a real risk our debt becomes unsustainable this Parliament, unless we make tough choices about what the state does. We can't keep on muddling through."

From

"The only explanation that made sense was that both babies got muddled up in hospital."

From

Instead, it simply muddles the everyman point of the film.

From

His comments about former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis were muddled, angry and accusatory, including references to “auto pens” and cognitive tests.

From

That claim emerges from a larger framework of forcefully articulated conservative ideas about the economy, which are wrong but can’t be effectively opposed by muddled progressive reasoning.

From

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