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
David Nield, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
Among those muddles: Who exactly are Sylvie’s parents?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Mary Gilbert, CNN, 4 Feb. 2025
San Diego Padres Ownership Situation Murky While Preller offers no excuses, the Padres’ ownership situation is muddled, and the club has been in cost-cutting mode since the death of chairman Peter Seidler in 2023.
—John Perrotto, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Noun
In this case, there's a bit of a muddle of old and new tools.
—David Nield, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
Among those muddles: Who exactly are Sylvie’s parents?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Verb
La Niña and its counterpart El Niño typically have a predictable and outsized effect on winter weather in the US, but this La Niña is quite weak, which muddles its influence.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 4 Feb. 2025
San Diego Padres Ownership Situation Murky While Preller offers no excuses, the Padres’ ownership situation is muddled, and the club has been in cost-cutting mode since the death of chairman Peter Seidler in 2023.
—John Perrotto, Forbes, 3 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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This can cause dementia, confusion, and visual and hearing problems.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
16 Mar. 2025
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Further confusion, delays or uncertainty will be consuming your path now, Sagittarius.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The elegant curtains are crafted from a 100% polyester fabric that comes in a variety of shades and is machine washable.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Mar. 2025
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Choose from a variety of seasonal hues, including baby pink, light green, and lavender.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Boat-Friendly Boca Grande To live in Boca Grande (not to be confused with Boca Raton, the resort on Florida’s east coast) is to be on the water.—
Mary Forgione,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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When some confused the artist organization’s acronym, RCAF, with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the name was humorously changed to the Royal Chicano Air Force.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Removing this dam would not only disrupt that balance but could also have severe consequences for the City of Elgin.—
Courier-News,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
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As the World Economic Forum reports, 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next four years, with cognitive skills growing in importance most rapidly.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Those were poor seasons which took in the decline of Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch’s tenure and the mess that followed with Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
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In the first four episodes, Newsom seems incapable of interrogating any right-wing position—whether on tariffs, book bans, trans women in sports, wokeness, or the mess at the border.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Documented by astronaut Eugene Cernan on Apollo 17, this refers to an illuminated haze during lunar sunset.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 Mar. 2025
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Passengers could be seen covering their mouths and noses to protect themselves from the haze.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC News,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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National Weather Service has warned that visibility has dropped to 1/4 mile or less amid the fog.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
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But after spending most of the day under low stratus clouds, patchy fog and coastal drizzle caused by onshore flow, New Yorkers will likely need an umbrella for the evening hours, as a cold front coming from the west is expected to dump up to three-quarters of an inch of rain.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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