1
as in jumbles
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 confusions
a state of mental uncertainty
the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in varieties
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in confuses
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 disrupts
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 muddles
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Relying on such sources is misleading and muddles the comparison with Chicago, which has better public transit than Philadelphia.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
OpenAI muddles the message on if the government should guarantee chip financing.
—John Kell, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Verb
But the Royals and Guardians play each other this week, which muddles up the math a little bit (especially if Kansas City wins the series and hops the Guardians for second place).
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Relying on such sources is misleading and muddles the comparison with Chicago, which has better public transit than Philadelphia.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
OpenAI muddles the message on if the government should guarantee chip financing.
—John Kell, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddles
Noun
-
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
-
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Before the Lost Weekend, John and Yoko had their New York Year — turning their personal confusions into beautifully vivid moments of rage and pain.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Minute Maid's frozen juices - including several varieties of orange juice, lemonade and limeade - will be discontinued by April, with inventory available while supplies last, Coca-Cola said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Other varieties include a fun skirt with a threadbare T-shirt, or Brandy Melville basics offset by aggressively A-lister sunglasses.—
Olivia Allen,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … POLITICS ACCESS DENIED – SpaceX CEO Elon Musk disrupts Russian operations in Ukraine with single move.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Hovering over desks or listening in on private conversations makes the workplace feel intrusive and disrupts workers’ sense of privacy and comfort.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Make sure to clean up spills and messes as soon as the oven cools down to prevent buildup.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Matching the right type of vacuum to your flooring surface and the common messes in your home can be tricky business.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Barresi and Cuellar hold each other up with palpable tenderness, each one crafting a long, poignant arc from innocence through the fogs and thorns of experience.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Its proprietary planner, then, aims to replace the traditionally tedious, labor-intensive methods for aggregating seasonal assortments across brands.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Plus, a custom Jibbitz mural by local NYC artist Jon Contino provides a social-ready moment on the second floor, which also showcases the brand’s lifestyle, Crocs @ Work, kids, and toddler assortments.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddles. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
