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
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
Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
Still, economists say the report could be more than a little muddled this time around.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
Trump is trying to turn that muddle into a single demand for cheaper, thirstier trucks.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
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Verb
The situation might be a bit more muddled by the US wanting to resume nuclear testing.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
Still, economists say the report could be more than a little muddled this time around.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Noun
That muddle is making a dangerous situation even more potentially volatile.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
Trump is trying to turn that muddle into a single demand for cheaper, thirstier trucks.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muddle
Cite this Entry
“Muddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muddle. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
muddle
2 of 2 noun1
: a state of confusion or bewilderment
2
: a confused mess : jumble
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