as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a muddled arrangement of trophies in the display case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of muddled
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Above a muddled Southland college basketball landscape, a heartwarming, heart-stopping story has arisen.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Whatever the case, the result is easily the franchise’s worst effort, riddled with muddled motivations, inconsistent characters and a serious identity crisis.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
The muddled reality of what is so succinctly stated as the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation is that spot will almost certainly end up being filled by several people.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Whatever the case, the result is easily the franchise’s worst effort, riddled with muddled motivations, inconsistent characters and a serious identity crisis.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Conte believed that the muddled thinking and questionable ambition of the club’s hierarchy, then led by chairman Daniel Levy, would also be costly.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Your 9th House of Growth receives the oft-muddled energy of Mercury Retrograde — travel plans, watch out!
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Visit our website Republicans, by contrast, offer a muddled message.
—Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
But the strategy has been muddled and confused many players.
—Jason Schreier, Bloomberg, 4 Mar. 2026
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
That has muddled the overall picture.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The message gets muddled but this eco-conscious journey is charming.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Peterson's lawyers argued his role as an armed school resource officer did not amount to a caregiving post needed to prove child neglect in Florida, and that the response to the shooting was muddled by poor communication.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
At the moment, however, the apex of the 2026 draft order is muddled.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The numbers paint a muddled picture.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Above a muddled Southland college basketball landscape, a heartwarming, heart-stopping story has arisen.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Whatever the case, the result is easily the franchise’s worst effort, riddled with muddled motivations, inconsistent characters and a serious identity crisis.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
The muddled reality of what is so succinctly stated as the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation is that spot will almost certainly end up being filled by several people.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Whatever the case, the result is easily the franchise’s worst effort, riddled with muddled motivations, inconsistent characters and a serious identity crisis.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Conte believed that the muddled thinking and questionable ambition of the club’s hierarchy, then led by chairman Daniel Levy, would also be costly.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Your 9th House of Growth receives the oft-muddled energy of Mercury Retrograde — travel plans, watch out!
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Visit our website Republicans, by contrast, offer a muddled message.
—Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Together the flavor is muddled, slightly discordant, but alone the Irish whiskey gets to sing, its apples and pears and slight malt and gentle touch a perfect foil to the zesty front palate of the lemon and the deep finish of the almonds.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
But the strategy has been muddled and confused many players.
—Jason Schreier, Bloomberg, 4 Mar. 2026
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
That has muddled the overall picture.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The message gets muddled but this eco-conscious journey is charming.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Peterson's lawyers argued his role as an armed school resource officer did not amount to a caregiving post needed to prove child neglect in Florida, and that the response to the shooting was muddled by poor communication.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
At the moment, however, the apex of the 2026 draft order is muddled.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddled
Adjective
-
The people in it are depicted as messy, earnest, and trying their best.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And finally, take really messy or stinky items straight to the outdoor trash can.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But to be fair, if worn independently, any of these products could be easily confused for any standard accessory thanks to smaller chips and sensors.—
Brian Cheung,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Brad Pitt once confused DiCaprio's parents for extras.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The conflict has disrupted energy production in the Middle East and led to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.—
Chloe Taylor,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The conflict has also disrupted airspace across parts of the Middle East, forcing airlines to reroute flights, particularly between Europe and Asia, along longer routes that burn more fuel and keep aircraft in the air for longer.—
Scott Campbell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In recent years, south suburban Dolton and Thornton Township have become synonymous with political dysfunction — chaotic public meetings, allegations of financial impropriety, and residents stuck with deficits and unpaid bills.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
At Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a CNN reporter saw chaotic scenes, with passengers shuffling from line to line.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As children from the synagogue were shuffled to safety, nearby West Bloomfield Schools were under a shelter-in-place order from police.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Samson Fellows shuffled in his slippers to a small space heater and flicked it on.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The words sound like magnetic fridge poetry—jumbled and foreign in her mouth.—
Olivia Horn,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Yet all this beauty ultimately does not save a jumbled narrative.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At first, McCutchen was puzzled.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Policy experts were puzzled — but Final Fantasy XIV players were reminded of the game's most powerful weapons.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddled. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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