muddle

[ muhd-l ]
See synonyms for: muddlemuddledmuddlednessmuddlement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),mud·dled, mud·dling.
  1. to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.

  2. to cause to become mentally confused.

  1. to cause to become confused or stupid with or as if with an intoxicating drink.

  2. to make muddy or turbid, as water.

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

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

  3. Ceramics. to smooth (clay) by rubbing it on glass.

verb (used without object),mud·dled, mud·dling.
  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.

Verb Phrases
  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.

Origin of muddle

1
First recorded in 1540–50; mud + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch moddelen “to muddy”

Other words for muddle

Opposites for muddle

Other words from muddle

  • mud·dled·ness, mud·dle·ment, noun
  • mud·dling·ly, adverb
  • pre·mud·dle, noun, verb (used with object), pre·mud·dled, pre·mud·dling.

Words Nearby muddle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use muddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for muddle

muddle

/ (ˈmʌdəl) /


verb(tr)
  1. (often foll by up) to mix up (objects, items, etc); jumble

  2. to confuse

  1. to make (water) muddy or turbulent

  2. US to mix or stir (alcoholic drinks, etc)

noun
  1. a state of physical or mental confusion

Origin of muddle

1
C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen to make muddy

Derived forms of muddle

  • muddled, adjective
  • muddledness or muddlement, noun
  • muddling, adjective, noun
  • muddlingly, adverb
  • muddly, adjective

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