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
Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025
Paris’ increasingly one-sided support of Haftar will only add to the thick muddle of foreign interference in the Libyan conflict.
—Jalel Harchaoui, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2017
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 June 2025
Connelly refuses to allow the way that series ended to muddle the fact Minnesota was so strong over the second half of the campaign, and closed out each of its first two playoff series this spring in five games.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Noun
Those searching for catharsis or an applicable remedy to their own heartaches and existential muddles will find only one definitive answer—that no person can ever fully know her own mind.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025
Paris’ increasingly one-sided support of Haftar will only add to the thick muddle of foreign interference in the Libyan conflict.
—Jalel Harchaoui, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2017
Verb
Yes, that’s a lot of cask finishes to combine in one whiskey, something that could easily go overboard as flavors collide or get muddled in the process.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 June 2025
Connelly refuses to allow the way that series ended to muddle the fact Minnesota was so strong over the second half of the campaign, and closed out each of its first two playoff series this spring in five games.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddle
Noun
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In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For potential patients, this information overload—and the social baggage that comes with it—often creates more confusion than clarity.—
Christy Saia-Owenby,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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The juror also explained brief confusion Wednesday afternoon that arose out of a verdict that jurors later retracted before it was read in court.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
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So unless Guerin has something unforeseen up his sleeve to add a center via trade, their best option could be in Tuesday’s opening of free agency, though the options remaining there aren’t exactly of the top-six variety.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Other varieties provide additional design elements such as interesting bark, colorful fruits, and fabulous fall foliage to enhance the garden all year long.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Map their journey to spot every gap, make buying effortless with fewer steps, communicate clearly so no one gets confused, add personal touches that create connection, and follow up fast to turn buyers into advocates.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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Letters: Washington, D.C., has a deficit of humanity Do not confuse my warning to Israel for a shred of understanding for what Hamas did on Oct. 7, 2023.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
14 June 2025
Verb
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These attacks don’t just disrupt operations but also expose deeply personal financial information that can fuel identity theft, fraud and long-term reputational damage.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
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Globally, heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather are disrupting supply chains, inflating food prices, and undermining financial stability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
26 June 2025
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In the wacky political world of Southeast Los Angeles County — where scandals seem to bloom every year with the regularity of jacarandas — there’s never been a mess as pendejo as the one stirred up this week by Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The Aries moon inspires you while also casting an illusory haze.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
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The thick, white smoky haze that increased north and east of the city was primarily the result of wildland fires in New Jersey and Canada, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department, which alerted residents to the cause and also sought to ease the alarm.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Navigating a business through economic uncertainty can feel like driving at night on an unfamiliar road as the fog rolls in.—
Anita Nelson,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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An international team of astronomers now suggests this signal could be used to determine how light from the first stars interacted with this cosmic fog, helping to lift it.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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