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
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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
Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Direct lines of contact between the two powers devolved into a muddle of nuclear threats, insults and ultimatums.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Noel Murray, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Bernstein’s Mark Moerdler echoed the sentiment that Oracle’s last quarter was overall a decent one, but was muddled by complex controversies.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Noun
After the muddle of Kamala Harris and the senility of Joe Biden, Democrats need substantive and sophisticated leaders primed for traditional and new media alike.
—Verb
Suddenly, the whole point of Olympia and Matty’s mission is muddled.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddle
Noun
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The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Noun
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Austin Butler going viral for his dancing at Bad Bunny's Puerto Rico residency in an edibles-induced daze.—
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Patrons lounged in a smoky daze; men wearing fedoras played mah-jongg.—
Noun
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Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
-
The category confusion continued this year.—
Noun
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Head to Chocolate Meltdown and sample a variety of treats that'll be sure to please your sweet tooth.—
-
Delhomme was interviewed by Observer columnist Scott Fowler, who in 17 minutes probed the Panthers Hall of Honor inductee on a variety of topics.—
Verb
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The 40-year-old cooks up ways to make quarterbacks miserable in his sleep, devising schemes that are meant to lure as much as they are intended to confuse.—
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Canales-Pelaez said that local departments may be confusing administrative warrants with criminal ones, or overcomplying to avoid backlash from the state Legislature.—
Verb
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Bullet train services were temporarily disrupted, and cameras mounted on buildings showed visible shaking.—
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However, drinking caffeinated tea too late in the day can disrupt sleep.—
Noun
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Rather than letting those items pile up in a cluttered mess, opt for a compact organizer with enough storage to hold all the essentials.—
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And what a distraction from the mess he’s created!—
Noun
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The bag of tricks–Ikue Mori sample-trigger rituals, Orange Milk-adjacent MIDI choir theatrics, Valentina Magaletti kitchen-sink drum thwacking, dubby Sun Araw haze–is endless, but cohesive.—
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The Ektachrome had an additional advantage, which was to give the film the nostalgic haze of an old home movie.—
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddle. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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