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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddle
Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
This muddle stems from a deeper conceptual problem.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
In a time muddled by noise and packed schedules, many people are looking for a quiet spot to reset.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Noun
Trump is trying to turn that muddle into a single demand for cheaper, thirstier trucks.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
This muddle stems from a deeper conceptual problem.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
The motivation behind their murder spree and AI fuckery is muddled at best.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
In a time muddled by noise and packed schedules, many people are looking for a quiet spot to reset.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddle
Noun
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In the band’s heyday, Anthony Kiedis, with his bare torso and long girlish copper-blond hair, looked like a ’70s teen idol who’d become a Warhol hustler – a street-flesh god like Joe Dallesandro, except that where Dallesandro was in a daze, Kiedis was a live wire.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
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And there’s still almost an hour of film left to go, in which everyone, including the audience, is in a sort of hallucinatory, post traumatic daze — but even the relative comfort of that won’t last long.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out the Native Vote, a nonpartisan voting rights advocacy group affiliated with the Alaska Federation of Natives, worries about creating confusion and fear among voters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Other passengers described confusion and disorganization within the lines themselves.—
Jared Eggleston,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Manteca is launching a pilot program that is aimed at helping entrepreneurs, supporting local small businesses and showcasing the variety of food the city has to offer.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Festival exclusive events include Night of Too Many Stars — a stand-up, variety, and music telethon to benefit NEXT for Autism — hosted by Jon Stewart, a taping of Nate Bargatze’s upcoming Netflix comedy special, and a Shane Gillis and Friends event at the Hollywood Bowl.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to Baumgartner, the decision stemmed from network concerns that the gag could confuse viewers or suggest a storyline involving Kevin.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The city checks for duplicate names, similar-sounding names, spelling conflicts, and anything that could slow down or confuse an emergency response.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Almanac installed the unit without building a new facility or disrupting production.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
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With the conflict having disrupted much of the world's oil supplies, markets remain highly sensitive to any headline suggesting either escalation or diplomacy.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Nobody else will clean up the mess in Iran.—
David Ignatius,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
-
So, with Paul and Mortensen’s latest mess playing out in real time in the public sphere, what is the point of watching her pretend to search for romance on The Bachelorette?—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Whenever the weather changes suddenly, or the skyline becomes shrouded in a windy haze, Fernanda Camarillo braces herself for an asthma attack.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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The overall atmosphere of the show, directed by Meenu Gaur and Annetta Laufer, has a kind of golden haze about it.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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