as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a muddled arrangement of trophies in the display case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in confused
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of muddled
Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
This is an impossible task – partly due to Trump’s own muddled thinking – but most importantly, because Putin does not want peace.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
And yet, introducing new antagonists through a muddled mystery, the core Conjuring mythology nearly cracks beyond repair.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Security, errors, and trust dominate the risk analysis Despite the hype and muddled terminology, the core idea of AI agents—systems designed to autonomously take action to carry out specific tasks—is still generating a lot of justifiable excitement.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
The picture is far more muddled, and economists are split over whether Powell will telegraph a likely rate decrease next month or a continuation of the Fed’s wait-and-see approach.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
If anything, this juxtaposition makes the Moomins perfect guides through our muddled moment, online and off.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Much of the display seemed muddled and unclear.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
The process has been so muddled that officials for key trade partners were unclear at the start of the week whether the tariffs would begin Thursday or Friday.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
So, Horn’s opportunity for activation seems muddled at best — justified or not.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2025
What was meant to be constructive ends up muddled.
—George Bradt, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The unease is muddled, and the characters seem less vulnerable as a result.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Yet, given the market's heavy tilt to megacap tech, any leading economic signal from such a turnaround could be muddled.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
After Achane, the picture is muddled.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
What Dracula has to do with that story is not entirely clear, and Jude’s propos can feel both muddled by the exhaustive material, as well as too obvious in places.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
His argument is muddled, decrying our reliance on fossil fuels while dismissing efforts to devise alternatives.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Over the course of a few hours in Washington on Tuesday, the increasingly muddled state of public health unfolded.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
This is an impossible task – partly due to Trump’s own muddled thinking – but most importantly, because Putin does not want peace.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
And yet, introducing new antagonists through a muddled mystery, the core Conjuring mythology nearly cracks beyond repair.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Security, errors, and trust dominate the risk analysis Despite the hype and muddled terminology, the core idea of AI agents—systems designed to autonomously take action to carry out specific tasks—is still generating a lot of justifiable excitement.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
The picture is far more muddled, and economists are split over whether Powell will telegraph a likely rate decrease next month or a continuation of the Fed’s wait-and-see approach.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
If anything, this juxtaposition makes the Moomins perfect guides through our muddled moment, online and off.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Much of the display seemed muddled and unclear.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
The process has been so muddled that officials for key trade partners were unclear at the start of the week whether the tariffs would begin Thursday or Friday.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Every school was feeling its way around to some degree when the NCAA rule changes arrived in the summer of 2021, and myriad state laws muddled the picture even further.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
So, Horn’s opportunity for activation seems muddled at best — justified or not.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2025
What was meant to be constructive ends up muddled.
—George Bradt, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The unease is muddled, and the characters seem less vulnerable as a result.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Yet, given the market's heavy tilt to megacap tech, any leading economic signal from such a turnaround could be muddled.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
After Achane, the picture is muddled.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
What Dracula has to do with that story is not entirely clear, and Jude’s propos can feel both muddled by the exhaustive material, as well as too obvious in places.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
His argument is muddled, decrying our reliance on fossil fuels while dismissing efforts to devise alternatives.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddled
Adjective
-
Between the messy decline of solar cycle 25 and the possibility of a dramatic last gasp, aurora hunters may still have their best nights ahead.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Ceiling Fixtures Most people don't climb up a ladder to dust ceiling fixtures, so this is going to be a messy job.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lethargic and confused in their play.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Oxygen bleach soaks—Oxygen bleach (not to be confused with chlorine bleach) is a gentle yet powerful whitening agent.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The rise of streaming and shifting business models have disrupted the rhythms on which many of us built stable careers, and production has become increasingly global and complex.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
-
On one hand, companies like Upwork and Fiverr have suffered as generative AI has disrupted simple contract jobs like copyediting and translation.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But, true to the chaotic and improvisational nature of his medium, the screening was delayed by about 25 minutes as Speed wrapped things up and attendees were corralled to their seats with buckets of kettle corn and hard Topo Chicos.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Some have turned chaotic, with protesters clashing with authorities.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But the rhetoric has baffled Democrats, who see ER payments as effective and noncontroversial and are unwilling to disavow it.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Amid the hangover of the 0-4 start, students shuffled out their dorms, lured by free food and faint promise of school spirit at the Rose Bowl.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Restyle Soft Goods Soft goods like accent pillows, throw blankets, and even curtains can be easily shuffled around to refresh your space, Reinhard says.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Phillies started a jumbled outfield in Game 2 that had undrafted Otto Kemp in left field, Brandon Marsh in center field and Castellanos in right.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
And the free options just make life harder with jumbled formatting.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The supermodel and businesswoman, 51, has puzzled followers with frenzied TikToks about her dreams to serve Hot Ice Cream at her Australian ice cream shop, SMiZE and Dream.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Reports surfaced claiming that WWE was puzzled by such a low grade, followed by rumors that the company pushed to have Hale fired from his position at ESPN.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share