1
as in confuses
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obfuscates
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 blackens
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 muddies
The guard leans heavily on religious references during his media availabilities, which muddies his answers to direct questions regarding his physical condition and outlook on his future in Chicago.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Houser said that because the majority of Americans support removing serious criminals, the White House muddies the waters in an effort to maintain support for mass deportations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Online, some drew parallels between the heartwrenching moment, which muddies up notions of consent, to an earlier scene in the series, where Carol reveals her mother sent her to conversion therapy camp.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
The neighbor who gave you the warning was vague in a way that perhaps suggests discretion, but in reality, only muddies the waters.
—Eric Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2026
National Birds should get that — although plans to rest starters including QB Jalen Hurts muddies the assumption.
—Greg Cote
january 1, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
All this dancing around the definition of their relationship muddies what exactly the audience is supposed to be rooting for here, and what’s at stake if the pair doesn’t reconcile.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 Nov. 2025
Even without such a collapse, the influx of synthetic junk muddies the waters for real users.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
But the latest inflation data, where both hiring slowed and prices rose, muddies the picture.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Houser said that because the majority of Americans support removing serious criminals, the White House muddies the waters in an effort to maintain support for mass deportations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Online, some drew parallels between the heartwrenching moment, which muddies up notions of consent, to an earlier scene in the series, where Carol reveals her mother sent her to conversion therapy camp.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
The neighbor who gave you the warning was vague in a way that perhaps suggests discretion, but in reality, only muddies the waters.
—Eric Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2026
National Birds should get that — although plans to rest starters including QB Jalen Hurts muddies the assumption.
—Greg Cote
january 1, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
All this dancing around the definition of their relationship muddies what exactly the audience is supposed to be rooting for here, and what’s at stake if the pair doesn’t reconcile.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 Nov. 2025
Even without such a collapse, the influx of synthetic junk muddies the waters for real users.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
But the latest inflation data, where both hiring slowed and prices rose, muddies the picture.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddies
Verb
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Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Go somewhere that confuses your algorithm.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
-
An actress in 1962 Cuban, as its missiles crisis rages, confuses her role in a film and real life.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Director Antonio Campos shoots this exchange in the shadows, a choice that only obfuscates this pivotal moment further.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
-
Local students tend to know about the province’s nationalistic perspective, due to their high school curriculum, but this deliberately (and understandably) obfuscates the larger Canadian picture to try to foster a firmer attachment to Quebec’s language and culture.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the salmon blackens in a skillet, the spices awaken, encrusting the fish in peppery piquant.—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mount predator baffles and guards to the pole or tree during installation.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The continued controversy over the Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance baffles me.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The liquid bronzer also features light-diffusing silica that softly blurs texture, and antioxidant-rich elderberry pairs with soothing botanicals like evening primrose to help keep dry, mature skin comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
-
All-day dining at The Common Room blurs culinary boundaries to curate an exceptional selection of prime cuts, succulent seafood, and specialty dishes, each meticulously prepared and enhanced with local flair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
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The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddies. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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