muddle

1 of 3

verb

mud·​dle ˈmə-dᵊl 

muddled; muddling ˈməd-liŋ 

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 positions.

—A. 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 

ˈmə-dᵊl-ər

noun

muddle

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a state of especially mental confusion

2

: a confused mess

muddly

ˈməd-lē 

ˈmə-dᵊl-ē

adjective

muddler

3 of 3

noun (2)

mud·​dler ˈməd(ᵊ)lə(r) 

plural -s

1

: one that muddles

specifically : a utensil usually shaped like a pestle for crushing and mixing (as the flavoring agents of a mixed drink)

2

: miller's-thumb sense 1

Synonyms of muddle

Verb

• confuse
• baffle
• puzzle
• perplex
• bewilder

Noun (1)

• jumble
• mess
• havoc
• confusion
• hell
• chaos

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 (1)

His papers were in a muddle.

His mind was a muddle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

No one here can escape the Monster signature, which is to make its themes obvious and its takeaways muddled; the whole thing is spectacle without reflection. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

But however janky, the system just about works for the ornery menfolk muddling their way through it, with their many beefs mostly resolved with a bottle of lethally alcoholic local tipple chacha, or a punch to the face, or both. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Noun

Blend yours with frozen mango, muddle in fresh blackberries, or infuse the tequila with chiles. — Hannah Lee Leidy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

Although its advocates may claim inspiration from both the Great Society tradition of the Democratic Party and Nordic-style democratic socialism, consumer socialism is really a muddle of the two. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

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 (1)

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing muddle

• in a muddle
• muddle along
• muddle through

Rhymes for muddle

• cuddle
• huddle
• puddle

Kids Definition

muddle

1 of 2 verb

mud·​dle ˈməd-ᵊl 

muddled; muddling ˈməd-liŋ 

-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 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

muddle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a state of confusion or bewilderment

2

: a confused mess : jumble