muddle

1 of 2

verb

mud·​dle ˈmə-dᵊl How to pronounce muddle (audio)
muddled; muddling ˈməd-liŋ How to pronounce muddle (audio)
ˈmə-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to make turbid or muddy
muddled the brook with his splashings
2
: to befog or stupefy (see stupefy sense 1) especially with liquor
The drink muddled him and his voice became loud and domineering.
3
: to mix confusedly
muddles the household accounts
4
: to make a mess of : bungle
muddled themselves into the most indefensible positionsA. N. Whitehead

intransitive verb

: to think or act in a confused aimless way
She muddled along for a year before going to college.
muddler
ˈməd-lər How to pronounce muddle (audio)
ˈmə-dᵊl-ər
noun

muddle

2 of 2

noun

1
: a state of especially mental confusion
2
: a confused mess
muddly
ˈməd-lē How to pronounce muddle (audio)
ˈmə-dᵊl-ē
adjective

Examples of muddle in a Sentence

Verb a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts Noun His papers were in a muddle. His mind was a muddle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The pair are an intriguing juxtaposition, but this mirroring gets muddled under their dark pull toward Tommaso. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 In recent years, conspiracy theories like QAnon, which claims Democratic politicians are trafficking children, have led to an excess of unfounded reports that have muddled the evaluation of child abuse tips, three former Meta trust and safety employees said. Michael H. Keller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The status of that Saturday's state party gathering became somewhat clearer on Tuesday after having been muddled due to ongoing controversy over who is the state party's chairman. Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2024 Thinly sliced unripe papaya is muddled with briny crab and topped with crunchy pork rinds for this extra funky take on the classic Thai salad. The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 How to make it: add all the ingredients into a tin shaker, muddle the fruit and add the ice. Amanda Mesa, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Apple’s Foundation and Pachinko nail the aesthetic elements of the classic books they’re based on but muddle their plots beyond recognition. TIME, 7 Feb. 2024 The picture is further muddled by the fact that there is no precedent. Laura He, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024 Salads flavored with a simple syrup or herbs muddled in sugar need at least half an hour or up to a few hours for the flavors to combine. Becky Krystal, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
The political jockeying and unrest have left Pakistan, already reeling from an economic crisis, in a turbulent muddle. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 The decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 is just the latest policy muddle offered up by the UK government. Hanna Ziady, CNN, 4 Oct. 2023 But out of this geopolitical muddle, a new world older is lurching into motion. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023 As a result, no single party or coalition immediately gained enough parliamentary seats to govern, thrusting Spain into a familiar political muddle and giving new life to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who only days ago seemed moribund. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 24 July 2023 But the book’s chief interest now stems from its own theological muddle. Louis Bayard, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2023 The outcome was an inconclusive election and a political muddle that has become familiar to Spaniards since their two-party system fractured nearly a decade ago. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 23 July 2023 Others ducked the muddle entirely by keeping their employees working from home well into the future. Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2021 As an illustration of the muddle the Windsors now find themselves in, the concert was second to none. Mike McCahill, Variety, 8 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'muddle.' 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

Verb and Noun

probably from obsolete Dutch moddelen, from Middle Dutch, from modde mud; akin to Middle Low German mudde

First Known Use

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of muddle was in 1676

Dictionary Entries Near muddle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

muddle

1 of 2 verb
mud·​dle ˈməd-ᵊl How to pronounce muddle (audio)
muddled; muddling ˈməd-liŋ How to pronounce muddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to be or cause to be confused or bewildered : stupefy
muddled by too much advice
2
: to mix up in a confused way
muddle the household accounts
3
: to think or act in a confused way : bungle
muddle through a task
muddler
-lər How to pronounce muddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

muddle

2 of 2 noun
1
: a state of confusion or bewilderment
2
: a confused mess : jumble

More from Merriam-Webster on muddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!