1
as in jumble
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in daze
a state of mental confusion
I was in such a muddle after the accident that I didn't know where I was
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3
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle
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4
as in variety
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves
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1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice
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2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddle
Ars Technica, 29 Feb. 2024
This strategic muddle is the focus of discussion in regional capitals, as well as in Moscow and Beijing.
—Brett McGurk, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 2020
Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Without a guiding principle to maintain balance, businesses that pursue short-term gains at the cost of their core values or long-term sustainability risk ending up like Kurtz, muddling their original vision and arriving at the wrong conclusion.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Noun
Microsoft is stepping in to try to straighten up this muddle of conceptually similar, executionally different technologies with a new API called DirectSR (the SR is for Super Resolution).
—Ars Technica, 29 Feb. 2024
This strategic muddle is the focus of discussion in regional capitals, as well as in Moscow and Beijing.
—Brett McGurk, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 2020
Verb
There was something stark and piercing in me that was much closer to clarity than to muddle, but calling it a muddle took less effort.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Without a guiding principle to maintain balance, businesses that pursue short-term gains at the cost of their core values or long-term sustainability risk ending up like Kurtz, muddling their original vision and arriving at the wrong conclusion.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddle
Noun
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
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Baker also leads the orchestra, which sounds grand — although the sound in the arts center’s Pugh Theater often left musicians, lead singers and chorus all at the same level, with actors speaking over all of it at the same time to create a sonic jumble.—
Matthew J. Palm,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In other words, bills still need to be paid no matter the confusion of politicians eager to distort the pricing mechanism that organizes the market economy.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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During class, be sure to look out for warning signs that your body is struggling to handle the heat, such as dizziness, nausea, confusion, rapid heartbeat or fatigue, Wolf said.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But that share has declined in recent years, as brands including Ford (7.5%), Chevrolet (5.2%) and Hyundai (4.7%) began to offer a wider variety of electric models at better price points, according to Kelley Blue Book.—
Time,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
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Many other long Senate speeches in history offer a variety of useful historical hints about the political significance of Booker’s record-breaking speech.—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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No one was going to confuse Colossal with the Sierra Club.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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Few foods confuse foreign visitors quite like brunost, Norwegian brown cheese.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Shearing emphasized that there are no true winners in a tariff war, as higher prices harm consumers and disrupt global supply chains.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The mascara dries quickly, and there’s no mess or smudging.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2025
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Rule out any mess conundrums with this silver scalloped crumb catcher.—
Hayley Bloomingdale,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So, if the sun is low and dimmed by haze or thin clouds, use discretion, and err on the side of caution.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The first night of the Indian Super League, a little more than 10 years ago, passed in a haze of fireworks and a frenzy of spectacle.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Zero visibility strategy: In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2025
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The fog will lift by mid-morning, according to NWS Melbourne.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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