muddle through

verb

muddled through; muddling through; muddles through

: to achieve a degree of success without much planning or effort

Examples of muddle through in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The Biden administration’s approach seems to involve muddling through in Ukraine and the Middle East, making only marginal, selective increases in military spending, and betting the house that China doesn’t become more bellicose—a policy that could work well enough but could also fail disastrously. —

Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 26 Jan. 2024 After so much uncertainty, so much muddling through muck, people understandably wanted something clear and clean and good to work and root for. —

Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024 At least for now, Russia shows every sign of being able to muddle through economically. —

Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Jan. 2023 His music suggests America will just have to muddle through, and wrestle with its own failure. —

Jane Levere, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for muddle through

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of muddle through was circa 1864

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Muddle through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muddle%20through. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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