fuddle

verb

fud·​dle ˈfə-dᵊl How to pronounce fuddle (audio)
fuddled; fuddling ˈfəd-liŋ How to pronounce fuddle (audio)
ˈfə-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to make drunk : intoxicate
2
: to make confused : muddle
corridors, archways, recesses … combined to fuddle any sense of directionElizabeth Bowen

Examples of fuddle in a Sentence

the hotel staff is completely fuddled by the guest's bizarre requests
Recent Examples on the Web In colliding with a new type of animal, a chemical that might once have served to fuddle the wits of pests has been transformed into a glittering lure. Gareth Cook, Scientific American, 24 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fuddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of fuddle was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near fuddle

Cite this Entry

“Fuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuddle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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