muddle

[muhd-l]

verb (used with object)

muddled, muddling 

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

   Synonyms: disorder, disarray, chaos, haze, fog, daze, mess up, bungle, botch, confuse, disorganization

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.

5. 1. to mix, crush, or mash (an ingredient) into a drink, especially with a muddler.

   2. to mix or stir (a cocktail, chocolate, etc.).

6. 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: order

verb phrase

1. muddle through,  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

/ ˈmʌdəl /

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)

noun

1. a state of physical or mental confusion

Other Word Forms

• muddledness noun
• muddlement noun
• muddlingly adverb
• premuddle noun
• muddling adjective
• muddled adjective
• muddly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of muddle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of muddle¹

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen to make muddy

Example Sentences

Under Lewis, the 'inspire and entertain' mantra did not suit everyone, and it became muddled - particularly with younger players who, purely through lack of experience, had not yet cracked 50-over cricket.

Read more on BBC

“He just muddles through and uses Google Images and sort of figures it out that way.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Californians watched as the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, another D.C. power player from San Francisco, teetered into frailty, muddled through her final chapter in Washington and then died in office at 90 in 2023.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The world's finance ministers on their field trip to Washington have had to assume the world economy will muddle through this.

Read more on BBC

The slang terms get muddled as the topic turns to vegetables, a fun bit of comical confusion that the writers seemed afraid to linger on.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• befuddle 
• clutter 
• complicate 
• derange 
• discombobulate 
• disturb 
• fluster 
• perturb