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

The tanker’s arrival muddled the administration’s message and raised questions about the possibility of further fuel shipments.

From The Wall Street Journal

But that message likely got muddled as Powell started taking questions from journalists.

From MarketWatch

I was curious, but because of the muddle inside me, I merely pointed toward the back.

From Literature

Mark Sobel, a former senior Treasury official, told AFP that "the administration's views on the dollar are confused, muddled and inconsistent".

From Barron's

Although founded on democratic principles, the U.S. itself has a long, muddled history with the concept.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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