muddle

1 of 2

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 2

noun

1

: a state of especially mental confusion

2

: a confused mess

muddly

ˈməd-lē 

ˈmə-dᵊl-ē

adjective

Synonyms of muddle

Verb

• confuse
• baffle
• puzzle
• perplex
• bewilder

Noun

• 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

His papers were in a muddle.

His mind was a muddle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That reasoning is muddled, but according to Kneecap, they weren’t supposed to find out about this letter. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 May 2026

Especially among activists and academics, this explosion of identities has muddled Crenshaw’s neat system of greater and lesser disadvantage. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Noun

Far from Hegseth’s predictions of a quick, decisive win, the Iran war has now drifted into a costly, indeterminate muddle. —Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

Now, researchers plan to extend their investigations to nearby early settlement sites to determine if Culasawani is a midden or muddle. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026

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

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