jumbled; jumbling
ˈjəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
: to move in a confused or disordered manner
: to mix into a confused or disordered mass
—often used with up
1
a
: a mass of things mingled together without order or plan : hodgepodge
b
: a state of confusion
2
British
: articles for a rummage sale
: a small thin usually ring-shaped sugared cookie or cake
Synonyms
Examples of jumble in a Sentence
Verb
the contest editor has jumbled the letters of some common words
Recent Examples on the Web
Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Funds belonging to many parties are pooled, jumbled up, and spat out into brand-new wallets, masking the origin of the coins held in each.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
But the execution was jumbled and confused, a sentiment that was neatly — and perhaps unfortunately — summarized in Smith’s outfit.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Inside, with a shabby-chic design, expect a refined yet charmingly jumbled aesthetic.
—Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024
Chronologically jumbled, the book begins and ends with some candid snaps of his latest dog, Duzi.
—Darryl Levings, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2024
All the numbers were jumbled up, my brain just wasn't working.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024
With the middle of the East jumbled up, the Pacers have taken a step above their competition—for now.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024
Nearby, an English language textbook, bits of broken furniture and a pillow with floral embroidery are jumbled together in one large pile.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Teams are often burdened with jumbles of different KPIs that say different things, especially as operations become more complex.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
In just over two minutes, the song was done, and the gecs were on to more tracks, more genres, more dazzling jumbles.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 27 July 2023
The Murujuga rocks look like random jumbles of blocks with a reddish brown patina slowly built up by mineralization.
—Bydennis Normile, science.org, 12 May 2023
Prompt engineers can be fiercely protective of these word jumbles, seeing them as the keys to unlock AI’s most valuable prizes.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
Verb
The Apple series follows much of Townsend’s account, but with the storytelling jumbled.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Funds belonging to many parties are pooled, jumbled up, and spat out into brand-new wallets, masking the origin of the coins held in each.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
But the execution was jumbled and confused, a sentiment that was neatly — and perhaps unfortunately — summarized in Smith’s outfit.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Inside, with a shabby-chic design, expect a refined yet charmingly jumbled aesthetic.
—Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024
Chronologically jumbled, the book begins and ends with some candid snaps of his latest dog, Duzi.
—Darryl Levings, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2024
All the numbers were jumbled up, my brain just wasn't working.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024
With the middle of the East jumbled up, the Pacers have taken a step above their competition—for now.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024
Nearby, an English language textbook, bits of broken furniture and a pillow with floral embroidery are jumbled together in one large pile.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Noun
Think of it instead as a Rube Goldberg machine, reimagining doodles as dense jumbles of steps and if-then rules.
—The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Teams are often burdened with jumbles of different KPIs that say different things, especially as operations become more complex.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
In just over two minutes, the song was done, and the gecs were on to more tracks, more genres, more dazzling jumbles.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 27 July 2023
The Murujuga rocks look like random jumbles of blocks with a reddish brown patina slowly built up by mineralization.
—Bydennis Normile, science.org, 12 May 2023
Prompt engineers can be fiercely protective of these word jumbles, seeing them as the keys to unlock AI’s most valuable prizes.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near jumble
Cite this Entry
“Jumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jumble. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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