muddled; muddling
ˈməd-liŋ 
ˈmə-dᵊl-iŋ
2
: to befog or stupefy (see stupefy sense 1) especially with liquor
The drink muddled him and his voice became loud and domineering.
3
: to mix confusedly
muddles the household accounts
4
: to make a mess of : bungle
muddled themselves into the most indefensible positions—
A. N. Whitehead
A. N. Whitehead
: to think or act in a confused aimless way
She muddled along for a year before going to college.
1
: a state of especially mental confusion
2
: a confused mess
Synonyms
Examples of muddle in a Sentence
Verb
a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice
some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts
Noun
His papers were in a muddle.
His mind was a muddle.
Recent Examples on the Web
James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Congress found the effort deeply flawed, partly because of inexperienced political appointees muddling efforts and partly because up to $2 billion of taxpayer dollars disappeared to fraud and waste, according to its investigators.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2024
Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Netanyahu has struggled to maintain a hold over his fragile, right-wing governing coalition and its muddle of competing interests, whose collapse could spell the end of his leadership.
—Tara John, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muddle 
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Verb
Fish and muddled folklore Oarfish have been found around the globe, but one particular country's history with the fish has gathered the most attention: Japan.
—James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Congress found the effort deeply flawed, partly because of inexperienced political appointees muddling efforts and partly because up to $2 billion of taxpayer dollars disappeared to fraud and waste, according to its investigators.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
Except maybe for 1992’s South of the Border, West of the Sun, no previous Murakami novel has so clearly dealt with and inhabited the muddle of middle age.
—Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Netanyahu has struggled to maintain a hold over his fragile, right-wing governing coalition and its muddle of competing interests, whose collapse could spell the end of his leadership.
—Tara John, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muddle
Dictionary Entries Near muddle
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muddle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
muddle
2 of 2 noun1
: a state of confusion or bewilderment
2
: a confused mess : jumble
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