muddle

American  

[muhd-l] / ˈmʌd 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.

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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 British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. a state of physical or mental confusion

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of muddle

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

Example Sentences

Bain described a “K-shaped” market in private equity, with “elite funds” continuing to perform well while the long tail of other funds “muddles through.”

From The Wall Street Journal

England entered the tournament with a settled-looking side, but now look a muddle with Matt Dawson calling for Fin Smith to replace George Ford at number 10.

From BBC

"I do 12-hour shifts at work and trying to muddle all of them together has just been really hard," Clark says.

From BBC

Word from within the camp refuses to dwell too much on muddled selection or lack of depth.

From BBC

Frank failed to produce a side with any sort of clear identity, dragged down by muddled thinking and, when it mattered, a safety-first approach.

From BBC

Related Words

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