1
as in confusing
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obfuscating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in staining
to make dirty
forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddying
As the decades passed, their experiments escalated into increasingly absurd inquiries, muddying the boundaries between subjective and objective reality.
—
Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
This may be because the nucleus accumbens, the other reward region that some participants learned to ramp up, didn’t have the same connection to immune response, muddying the results.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2026
Injuries are muddying the market for players such as Coby White, who has played fewer than half of the games this season because of recurring calf injuries.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
But seen another way, this release is also optimally confusing, muddying the waters with as-yet-unverified information that’s being disseminated via individual screenshots on social media, making the whole thing easier to dismiss.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
This will prevent muddying the pieces if any color bleeding occurs while washing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
When asked about the more recent changes in the color grading industry, Doyle says an entirely new market is muddying the waters.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
Beijing would be relieved that the United States is no longer muddying and in fact strengthening its nonsupport for independence.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Further damning revelations are about to land, no doubt further muddying the waters.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
This may be because the nucleus accumbens, the other reward region that some participants learned to ramp up, didn’t have the same connection to immune response, muddying the results.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2026
Injuries are muddying the market for players such as Coby White, who has played fewer than half of the games this season because of recurring calf injuries.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
But seen another way, this release is also optimally confusing, muddying the waters with as-yet-unverified information that’s being disseminated via individual screenshots on social media, making the whole thing easier to dismiss.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
This will prevent muddying the pieces if any color bleeding occurs while washing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
When asked about the more recent changes in the color grading industry, Doyle says an entirely new market is muddying the waters.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
Beijing would be relieved that the United States is no longer muddying and in fact strengthening its nonsupport for independence.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Further damning revelations are about to land, no doubt further muddying the waters.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddying
Verb
-
At Hotel Lorenzo, managing partner Justin Burton said confusing detours and signage are creating frustration for visitors.—
Nicole Nielsen,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
But missing details on tax forms, such as on your W-2 from an employer, could be confusing when filing returns this year, experts say.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The renderings showed an imposing new East Wing roughly a city block long, longer than the West Wing and almost completely obfuscating the view of the Treasury Building from the South Lawn.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Lawyers for the group contend that the city is willfully obfuscating to cover up its inadequate efforts to live up to its settlement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Too much moisture can seep into cracks, causing swelling, staining, or warping.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid staining, as this formula will transfer if left behind.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Georgia basketball’s matchup with Tennessee ended in baffling fashion Wednesday night.—
Olivia Sayer,
AJC.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The pilot of a private jet reportedly made an eerie discovery while flying thousands of feet over Rhode Island, marking the latest in unexplained encounters baffling both experts and civilians alike.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Together, these elements underscore the exhibition’s multivalent nature, blurring distinctions between sculpture and performance, object and instrument, stillness and activation.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Analysts also noted that the longstanding nexus between business leaders and politicians has been a mixed blessing in Bangladesh—often facilitating swift policy decisions to support industry, yet at times blurring lines between commercial and political interests.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
-
Amazon shoppers are also going after this top-selling nonstick frying pan that’s great for eggs, chicken breasts, and other hard-to-flip foods, as well as this immersion blender that can churn soups and sauces into a creamy texture without dirtying another vessel.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Michigan's moose population has stagnated after being reintroduced in the 1980s, puzzling scientists.—
Free Press staff,
Freep.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Polestar’s willingness to deviate from the status quo of carmaking was commendable, but its strategies have been puzzling since the very beginning.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By his third season, rumors of Sane’s departure and injuries surfaced, clouding his trajectory.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The study showed that insurers paid investors $680 million in dividends and accepted $951 million in capital contributions from affiliates, clouding regulators’ abilities to determine insurers’ actual financial health.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddying. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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