jumble

American  

[juhm-buhl] / ˈdʒʌm bəl /

verb (used with object)

jumbled, jumbling

1. to mix in a confused mass; put or throw together without order.

   You've jumbled up all the cards.

   Antonyms:

   separate

2. to confuse mentally; muddle.

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verb (used without object)

jumbled, jumbling

1. to be mixed together in a disorderly heap or mass.

2. to meet or come together confusedly.

noun

1. a mixed or disordered heap or mass.

   a jumble of paper clips, rubber bands, and string.

2. a confused mixture; medley.

3. a state of confusion or disorder.

   Synonyms:

   chaos, muddle, mess, gallimaufry, farrago, hodgepodge

   Antonyms:

   order

4. Also jumbal a small, round, flat cake or cookie with a hole in the middle.

jumble British  

/ ˈdʒʌmbəl /

verb

1. to mingle (objects, papers, etc) in a state of disorder

2. (tr; usually passive) to remember in a confused form; muddle

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noun

1. a disordered mass, state, etc

2. articles donated for a jumble sale

3. Also called: jumbal.  a small thin cake, usually ring-shaped

Other Word Forms

• jumblement noun
• jumbler noun
• jumblingly adverb
• jumbly adjective
• unjumbled adjective

Etymology

Origin of jumble

1520–30; perhaps blend of joll to bump (now dial.) and tumble

Example Sentences

The author seems to trust that a coherent narrative will emerge, without the help of analytical threads, from a jumble of facts, tableaux, faces and innumerable quotes.

From The Wall Street Journal

So that's what this is, but in reality it's really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer's character finally comes into her own.

From BBC

The resulting jumble, however, is unlikely to outperform a simpler, cheaper autopilot portfolio consisting only of a handful or two of index funds.

From The Wall Street Journal

During a game, competitors are given files of jumbled data and scenarios or 'cases' that require sorting, based on a question, within the quickest time.

From BBC

That makes the richest takeaway from this mostly breezy if tonally jumbled film the utterly winning pairing of Teller and Randolph.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assortment
• mishmash
• pastiche
• patchwork
• tangle