FUDDLE Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

fuddle

verb

ˈfə-dᵊl

Definition of fuddle

as in to confuse

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the hotel staff is completely fuddled by the guest's bizarre requests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fuddle 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fuddle

Verb

The Studio Behind The Technology Annapurna Studios (not to be confused with the Megan Ellison-founded Annapurna Pictures in Hollywood) has been a cornerstone of Indian cinema for half a century.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
But there is the risk that his strategy will backfire by confusing investors.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
The Brazil midfielder has expressed a desire to join Arsenal, but Newcastle did not want to sell him this summer and have been perplexed by the lack of direct contact from the London club.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

The fire chief, Gene Perreault, who was there during the walk-through, tells me the piles puzzled investigators.

— Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
It's become a world of quick and easy solutions for life's puzzling issues; seemingly solving them in 45 seconds or using household remedies.

— John Shumway, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of puzzle

Verb

That the film can’t see this is a sign of how muddled its politics are, especially in its treatment of the tension between nature and modernity.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Not everything can be exclusively grand monsteras and glossy ferns; most artworks come muddled with the tat of mirrors and whirligigs, too.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of muddle

Verb

Touching on different tones is a great way to keep viewers discombobulated and primed for a scare.

— William Earl, Variety, 27 July 2026
While the car transmits every ripple in the road, its trick Multimatic dampers round off imperfections beautifully, so the chassis never feels discombobulated.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026

Definition of discombobulate

Browse Nearby Words

fud

fuddle

fuddled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuddle. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fuddle

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fuddle

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes