muddle

[ muhd-l ]

/ ˈmʌd l /

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See synonyms for: muddle / muddled / muddledness / muddlement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), mud·dled, mud·dling.

to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.

to cause to become mentally confused.

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

to make muddy or turbid, as water.

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

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

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

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

the state or condition of being muddled, especially a confused mental state.

a confused, disordered, or embarrassing condition; mess.

Verb Phrases

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR muddle

1 confuse, botch, bungle, spoil.

See synonyms for muddle on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of muddle

1540–50; mud + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch moddelen to muddy

OTHER WORDS FROM muddle

mud·dled·ness, mud·dle·ment, nounmud·dling·ly, adverbpre·mud·dle, noun, verb (used with object), pre·mud·dled, pre·mud·dling.un·mud·dled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use muddle in a sentence

Her own muddled feelings of confusion, shame, and fear are what make the essay great and what make the essay her story.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Since certification distinctions can be a bit muddled, some take this extra step.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Vodka|Debra A. Klein|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It all makes for a very cool bar, sure, but as a speakeasy, it feels a little muddled.
The Secret Speakeasies of Buenos Aires|Jeff Campagna|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This obviously closed off some important avenues of inquiry, but I guess we muddled through.
American Poet: Remembering Lou Reed|Kurt Loder|October 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The black, starless sky creeps over the muddled sunset that stains the waves purple before melting away.
I Can’t Shake Hawaii: An Ode to Returning to Places You’ve Been Before|Debra A. Klein|October 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He used to tell me so many that they quite muddled my head and even now I can't tell the tail of one from the head of the other.
Honey-Bee|Anatole France
"The story, as it has been handed on to Branderby, is pretty badly muddled," the editor went on.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde
The rations were calculated to last for another three days, but their distribution had been muddled.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921|Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
He was a coward at heart, and too much liquor had somewhat muddled his brain.
From Farm to Fortune|Horatio Alger Jr.
It may just possibly be found, without certificate, however, in those muddled caverns where the excluded intermingle.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for muddle

muddle

/ (ˈmʌdəl) /

verb (tr)

(often foll by up) to mix up (objects, items, etc); jumble

to confuse

to make (water) muddy or turbulent

US to mix or stir (alcoholic drinks, etc)

noun

a state of physical or mental confusion

Derived forms of muddle

muddled, adjectivemuddledness or muddlement, nounmuddling, adjective, nounmuddlingly, adverb

muddly, adjective

Word Origin for muddle

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen to make muddy

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

muddle

OTHER WORDS FOR muddle

Origin of muddle

OTHER WORDS FROM muddle

Words related to muddle

How to use muddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for muddle

Derived forms of muddle

Word Origin for muddle