1
as in baffling
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 confusing
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
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
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
-
In May, Kennedy vowed to find what caused autism by September, baffling scientists who near-unanimously believe there is no one cause of the condition.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
This is stuttering, crashing and other issues, even on high-end hardware way above recommended specs, which is baffling some.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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CarShield has received positive comments for its breadth of coverage and quick response times, although some policyholders have complained about claim denials, fine-print surprises and confusing sales practices.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The merger will divide Elon, confusing prospective and current students.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It’s made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and it can even be paired with your favorite lip balm or gloss — without staining the applicator — for an extra boost of moisture.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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As a natural stone, quartzite should be sealed to prevent staining.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Your appetite might differ, but for me, nine novels in, all this code-cracking and jigsaw-puzzling is no longer thrilling.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
This is puzzling since successful organizations focus on people, processes, and cultural change besides technology implementation.—
London School of Economics,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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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And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bieber is known for creating soft lines in her makeup, often blurring out her lip liner with her fingers before topping it with a signature gloss, and opting for light, smoky brown eye makeup rather than bold liner.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
25 Sep. 2025
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It was filed as the White House has taken steps to exert influence in unprecedented ways on the department, blurring the line between law and politics at an agency where independence in prosecutorial decision-making is a foundational principle.—
Eric Tucker,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
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