muddle through

verb

muddled through; muddling through; muddles through

intransitive verb

: 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.
So, people are muddling through their conversations and getting a lot wrong. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 That means investors, employees and executives will be left hanging for hours after the earnings, uncertain as to whether Boeing can finally start on the path to recovery — or be forced to keep muddling through with anemic production and dwindling cash reserves. Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2024 The 49ers muddled through wins over Seattle and Arizona, got thumped by the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night, clinched the top seed with a so-so road win against Washington and then rested starters in a meaningless loss to the Rams. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 Brazil boomed for decades, but decades of sub-par muddling through followed. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 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

Dictionary Entries Near muddle through

Cite this Entry

“Muddle through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muddle%20through. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!