1
as in confused
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blurred
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stained
to make dirty
forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddied
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
There is a desperate need to protect first-party data, which becomes muddied when bots, rather than humans, navigate a site.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
San Antonio has three ball handlers capable of running offense in a postseason that begs teams to fight through muddied possessions.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Our photo shoot takes place in his vineyards, and Cucinelli makes the short drive there himself behind the wheel of a muddied silver Rolls-Royce.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The line between law enforcement and partisan vindictiveness can also become muddied.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Her feet are bare, the toenails a little muddied.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Computers, desks, a washer and dryer were among the belongings in the muddied basement that were wrecked in the storm.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Voters say campaigns have muddied the waters on the issue, from contradictory direct mail campaigns to a leading ballot question.
—Jahd Khalil, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
As if that wasn't enough, a spike in energy prices tied to the Middle East conflict has further muddied the economic outlook and put strain on consumers at the pump.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
The presentation is muddied a bit by the strong bass and lack of stereo separation, which crowds the lower registers (something that’s not helped by the recording's acoustics).
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Former Managing Director Fabio Paratici being suspended for most of his time as Spurs’ chief decision-maker muddied the waters further.
—Joe Prince-Wright, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The Iran conflict has muddied expectations of imminent US Federal Reserve rate cuts, with rising oil prices reviving inflation fears and forcing investors to reassess how quickly the Fed can ease policy.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
But the BAFTAs muddied the waters (Robert Aramayo, not in the Oscar mix, was the unexpected winner).
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
During a nearly four-hour Friday hearing in Mecklenburg County small claims court, Jackson and Agape’s attorneys parsed through a muddied timeline that involved verbal agreements between Ball, Jackson and either Cam Newton or his father, Cecil Newton.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
There is a desperate need to protect first-party data, which becomes muddied when bots, rather than humans, navigate a site.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
San Antonio has three ball handlers capable of running offense in a postseason that begs teams to fight through muddied possessions.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Our photo shoot takes place in his vineyards, and Cucinelli makes the short drive there himself behind the wheel of a muddied silver Rolls-Royce.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The line between law enforcement and partisan vindictiveness can also become muddied.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Her feet are bare, the toenails a little muddied.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Computers, desks, a washer and dryer were among the belongings in the muddied basement that were wrecked in the storm.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The entrance of the American streamers into the factual drama space has muddied the waters in terms of defining a show’s success, according to Jeff Pope, who made his first streamer show last year.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Voters say campaigns have muddied the waters on the issue, from contradictory direct mail campaigns to a leading ballot question.
—Jahd Khalil, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
As if that wasn't enough, a spike in energy prices tied to the Middle East conflict has further muddied the economic outlook and put strain on consumers at the pump.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
The presentation is muddied a bit by the strong bass and lack of stereo separation, which crowds the lower registers (something that’s not helped by the recording's acoustics).
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Former Managing Director Fabio Paratici being suspended for most of his time as Spurs’ chief decision-maker muddied the waters further.
—Joe Prince-Wright, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The Iran conflict has muddied expectations of imminent US Federal Reserve rate cuts, with rising oil prices reviving inflation fears and forcing investors to reassess how quickly the Fed can ease policy.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
But the BAFTAs muddied the waters (Robert Aramayo, not in the Oscar mix, was the unexpected winner).
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddied
Adjective
-
Warsh believes markets have driven those rates up in response to muddled policy from the Fed, including the recent spike in inflation after Covid — but going much further back, too.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
This switch-up to the formula makes new episodes of The Comeback compelling to watch, even as the season’s big-picture storytelling remains a bit muddled.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At first, Liza Ginette was distraught and confused at her children’s silence.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
The red, purple or sometimes gold root vegetable — not to be confused with its white cousin, the sugar beet — is low-calorie and packed with nutrients and compounds linked to benefits, ranging from brain health to athletic performance.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
No Doubt defined an era with their individualistic fashion and blurred musical lines between ska and pop.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Tears blurred his vision and reddened his face.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Look for bins that are not coated or stained with toxic finishes.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On TikTok, short videos often show people traveling to Turkey to fix their uneven or stained teeth and transform their smiles.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Frail elderly women, swathed in headscarves and saris, worshipped while sitting on puddled pavement near corroded metal changing lockers plastered with ads for Glow & Lovely skin cream.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This length is easier to maintain and avoids the tripping hazards of puddled fabric while still looking polished.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Beata Siemionkowicz's immigration case has puzzled her family and experts.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
-
What appears to be an outbreak of hantavirus on a ship anchored near the tiny mid-Atlantic nation of Cabo Verde has infectious diseases experts puzzled.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
But the outlook is clouded by the Iran war.—
Michelle Chapman,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Sure, he’s driven by vengeance and ruthless in his pursuit, but — without spoiling anything — his motivation is clouded at best, misplaced at worst.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And one track prominently features a country singer, a drastic departure from the usual Fire-Toolz mélange of screensaver EDM, Hypercolor death metal, blackened new age, and copious other mutant genres that usually don’t mix.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
-
The mosque is blackened and burned, the minaret split in two.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddied. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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