1
as in jumble
a state in which everything is out of order
things at the newly built school were all in a muddle on opening day
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2
as in daze
a state of mental confusion
I was in such a muddle after the accident that I didn't know where I was
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3
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle
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4
as in variety
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves
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1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice
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2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Schuyler Moore,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
In another, the death of a major character was muddled by out-of-order airing of episodes around the death.
—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddle
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
Verb
The second is that the transactions require the producer to transfer the copyright to the film, and the documents are often so muddled that the producer does not get the copyright back.
—
Schuyler Moore,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
In another, the death of a major character was muddled by out-of-order airing of episodes around the death.
—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddle
Noun
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Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
Noun
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Hospital staff lined up to sing and dance, celebrating their good fortune, as the pair looked on in a daze.
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Summer Satur-daze Summer Music Series.
Noun
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Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 11th House of Friends and Community, bringing old invitations, group-chat confusion, or unclear expectations back into focus.
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In it, the author described a culture of confusion, stress, and incompetence, as contractors competed for work to be completed under near-impossible deadlines.
Noun
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The principal grape varieties in this region are Plavac Mali (red) and Pošip (white).
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Bagel lovers can pick from classic varieties like sesame, cinnamon raisin, blueberry and poppy seed.
Verb
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The decision reverses a June 15 determination by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who concluded the Petersburg resident's candidacy was intended to confuse voters rather than represent a legitimate campaign.
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The senator and allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have condemned the challenger’s efforts to join the race, arguing his presence could confuse voters.
Verb
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Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
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The decision severely hampered local planning for America’s 250th anniversary, disrupting history projects, museums and educational programs nationwide.
Noun
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The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
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Clean high-traffic areas or rooms where pets and kids tend to cause messes more frequently.
Noun
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But this version of Zorro leans instead into broad comedy and an even broader vintage aesthetic including day-for-night shooting and a general soft-focus haze.
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Smoke from the fire has been pushing to the east and northeast, meaning the air quality at popular vacation spots like Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks — which are located far south of the flames — hasn’t been significantly affected beyond some haze sinking into the Bryce area.
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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