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

For China’s economy to muddle along, Chu says, the U.S. economy needs to do well and keep buying Chinese goods, even if they are no longer coming via Vietnam or Malaysia.

From Barron's

For China’s economy to muddle along, Chu says, the U.S. economy needs to do well and keep buying Chinese goods, even if they are no longer coming via Vietnam or Malaysia.

From Barron's

For China’s economy to muddle along, Chu says, the U.S. economy needs to do well and keep buying Chinese goods, even if they are no longer coming via Vietnam or Malaysia.

From Barron's

Still, even a muddled reading could be the last thing investors were waiting on before kick-starting a Santa Claus rally into the end of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s partly because the plot can veer into far-fetched territory, but also because we see the story unfold from two different viewpoints, muddling the truth.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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