1
as in confused
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blurred
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stained
to make dirty
forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddied
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
However, since last summer’s expensive overhaul of the playing squad, the waters have become muddied.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The line between law enforcement and partisan vindictiveness can also become muddied.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Her feet are bare, the toenails a little muddied.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Computers, desks, a washer and dryer were among the belongings in the muddied basement that were wrecked in the storm.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Rain on parade morning muddied things for engineers and decorators.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
But, the decision was muddied after the administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided that the directives to terminate awards related to DEI were likely unlawful but that individual researchers would have to take their complaints to federal claims court.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
In the end, the Saints won with a walk-off field goal and muddied the Panthers’ previously uncomplicated path to the playoffs.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
Some online sources, such as National Geographic, Encyclopedia Britannica and others, muddied the waters of Krampus' origin story, saying the creature is the child of the Norse goddess Hel.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025
But the results have been largely inconclusive, in part because the data often come from observational studies, which are less reliable and can be muddied by other factors.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
However, the return of Rashee Rice has muddied Thornton's role to the point where he has only been targeted three times over the last four games.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
The same cannot exactly be said for the eight subsequent franchise installments, a motley group of sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes, and legacy sequels that have muddied the continuity.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Our photo shoot takes place in his vineyards, and Cucinelli makes the short drive there himself behind the wheel of a muddied silver Rolls-Royce.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
However, since last summer’s expensive overhaul of the playing squad, the waters have become muddied.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The line between law enforcement and partisan vindictiveness can also become muddied.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Her feet are bare, the toenails a little muddied.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Computers, desks, a washer and dryer were among the belongings in the muddied basement that were wrecked in the storm.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
As the series unfolds, the moral terrain grows increasingly muddied.
—Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Rain on parade morning muddied things for engineers and decorators.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
But, the decision was muddied after the administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided that the directives to terminate awards related to DEI were likely unlawful but that individual researchers would have to take their complaints to federal claims court.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
In the end, the Saints won with a walk-off field goal and muddied the Panthers’ previously uncomplicated path to the playoffs.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
Some online sources, such as National Geographic, Encyclopedia Britannica and others, muddied the waters of Krampus' origin story, saying the creature is the child of the Norse goddess Hel.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025
But the results have been largely inconclusive, in part because the data often come from observational studies, which are less reliable and can be muddied by other factors.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
However, the return of Rashee Rice has muddied Thornton's role to the point where he has only been targeted three times over the last four games.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
The same cannot exactly be said for the eight subsequent franchise installments, a motley group of sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes, and legacy sequels that have muddied the continuity.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddied
Adjective
-
Visit our website Republicans, by contrast, offer a muddled message.—
Neetu Arnold,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Why is the messaging so muddled here?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The New England Patriots just couldn't muster much of an attack against a Seattle defense that appeared to have Drake Maye confused through much of the night, falling 29-13.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the audit intensified criticism from council members and residents who said his approach blurred the line between official business and personal discretion.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In the production, Hayes plays Elliott, a writer grappling with creative paralysis who retreats to a remote cabin, only to find the line between imagination and reality dangerously blurred.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gooday explained that red hone is blue hone that has been stained by iron materials.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Classic raised garden beds made of wood and stained to protect them from the elements are a good way to pack a lot of plants into a small space.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Frail elderly women, swathed in headscarves and saris, worshipped while sitting on puddled pavement near corroded metal changing lockers plastered with ads for Glow & Lovely skin cream.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This length is easier to maintain and avoids the tripping hazards of puddled fabric while still looking polished.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Store employees were puzzled about any alleged involvement with El Primo.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
-
For decades, this has puzzled physicists and engineers alike.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cancer had consumed her body; drugs clouded her mind.—
Allegra Goodman,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Connecticut’s energy picture is clouded by its inability to get an adequate supply of natural gas, the main source of energy in the state and wider region.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The building burned to the ground and the soil has been scraped, but that blackened sago palm is still there, sprouting tons of new growth.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
There's no better tool for making biscuits, cornbread, or blackened chicken than a cast-iron skillet.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddied. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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