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
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
But now some of the world’s most prominent hotel brands are muddying the waters.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
Just with way worse WRs and a changing defensive landscape designed at taking away explosives and muddying the waters for offenses.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Be careful of drugs and alcohol muddying the water.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Further muddying the waters, Californians will likely have to parse dueling recommendations on vaccine use.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
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
But now some of the world’s most prominent hotel brands are muddying the waters.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
Just with way worse WRs and a changing defensive landscape designed at taking away explosives and muddying the waters for offenses.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Be careful of drugs and alcohol muddying the water.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Further muddying the waters, Californians will likely have to parse dueling recommendations on vaccine use.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddying
Verb
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Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
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This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The state says the foundation did this because Aerial Recovery, the nonprofit, had been obfuscating its name.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
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Some data types can be encrypted randomly, obfuscating enough of the data to stymie hackers—such as using only the last four digits of your credit to confirm your purchase identity.—
Srinivas Shekar,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Remove any heavy objects from the sides of your tub, as these items can cause chips or cracking that can contribute to staining.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, these shoes are machine washable, so don’t worry about staining the gorgeous light pink shoes on your next adventure!—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As if dark energy weren't already mysterious and baffling enough, new research suggests that this unknown force may not be driving galaxies apart at an accelerating rate anymore.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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One morning, members of the Fort Greely missile defense base spot an ICBM of unknown origin on a suborbital trajectory heading straight for Chicago, baffling the country’s top intelligence and defense teams who only have 18 minutes to respond before impact.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro—Protection, Evolved Engineered for the world’s most demanding mountain athletes, Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro represents the pinnacle of shell technology, blurring the lines between hard and soft shells.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
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Founded in New York in 1992, the genre-blurring Bang on a Can All-Stars counts Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and former San Diego composer George Lewis among its esteemed collaborators.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Further study is also needed to untangle one puzzling finding.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Some of the airports that do appear on the list are also puzzling — perhaps none more so than Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That’s all great, but the Guardians aren’t ones to make free-agent splashes, and that’s especially the case with a potential work stoppage clouding everything after the 2026 season.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Innocent to a fault, Rosemary doesn’t see the resentment clouding her husband’s face.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muddying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddying. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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