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
Having anyone come in with fake credentials muddies the water and can be harmful in numerous ways.
—
Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), reluctant hero Finn (John Boyega) and X-wing warrior Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance against a returning Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in a film that's full of logic fumbles and muddies the focus of the third and final trilogy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
That muddies the path to rate cuts in the short term.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 May 2026
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), reluctant hero Finn (John Boyega) and X-wing warrior Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance against a returning Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in a film that's full of logic fumbles and muddies the focus of the third and final trilogy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
That muddies the path to rate cuts in the short term.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 May 2026
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddies
Verb
-
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
His bad-boy swagger externally obfuscates his heart of gold, but his goodness and morality are apparent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
The president obfuscates or lies; the press contradicts him; the Pentagon’s own investigators find against him; senators of both parties demand answers; and the polls turn against the war.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Multiple baffles within the bladder help keep the liquid from sloshing around excessively, while a wide waterproof zipper across the top makes for easy filling, cleaning, and adding of electrolytes.—
Ben Coxworth
May 11,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
-
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The city is virtually certain to apply, but the lack of clarity surrounding the application blurs a key part of the stadium plan after the Royals’ celebratory announcement in April.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
-
The uncertainty about who has legal jurisdiction over Alligator Alcatraz—the federal government or the state of Florida—blurs the lines of accountability and oversight.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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 15 Jun. 2026.
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