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

The Electric Nebraska disc is powerful and fascinating, but also slightly disappointing when the original songs’ emotional meaning becomes a little muddled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the early stages, Oddie says, they were "just muddling through".

Read more on BBC

They become just another dreary NFL team, muddling through sadness and ineptitude.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many companies will muddle through new challenges as they did the pandemic, or surges in interest rates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is just all muddled thinking at United and Amorim is starting to look like a guy who wants to be put out of his misery.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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