1
as in jumbles
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 confusions
a state of mental uncertainty the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle
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3
as in varieties
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves
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1
as in confuses
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 disrupts
to undo the proper order or arrangement of some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts
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Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of muddles
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Relying on such sources is misleading and muddles the comparison with Chicago, which has better public transit than Philadelphia. —Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 OpenAI muddles the message on if the government should guarantee chip financing. —John Kell, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Verb
But the Royals and Guardians play each other this week, which muddles up the math a little bit (especially if Kansas City wins the series and hops the Guardians for second place). —Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Relying on such sources is misleading and muddles the comparison with Chicago, which has better public transit than Philadelphia. —Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 OpenAI muddles the message on if the government should guarantee chip financing. —John Kell, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddles
Noun
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Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.— Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.— Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Before the Lost Weekend, John and Yoko had their New York Year — turning their personal confusions into beautifully vivid moments of rage and pain.— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In general, fresh pasta cooks in two to four minutes, while thin varieties such as angel hair cook in one to two minutes.— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
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The candy’s original logo had three balloons to represent Airheads' first three flavors — cherry, watermelon and strawberry — but as the company expanded the varieties, it was changed to a balloon mascot, known as Oscar.— Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The low-performing chefs are Rhoda, whose lamb confuses the kids; Sherry, whose grits were oddly flavored; and Oscar, whose puff pastry soaked up all the deep-fryer oil.— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
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Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Go somewhere that confuses your algorithm.— Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Crude oil also disrupts animals’ nervous systems, Grosell added, impairing their senses and ability to navigate, process input, and properly orient themselves in their environment.— Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
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Cornstarch disrupts the scent trails ants use to navigate.— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With their gentle adhesive and easy-to-use design, lint rollers can tackle a surprising range of small household messes.— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
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Beyond monitoring, this sleek unit prioritizes a clean home environment with an automatic waste-packing system that instantly seals away messes and odors.— Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Over-the-counter pesticides and fogs will not do the job.— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
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Barresi and Cuellar hold each other up with palpable tenderness, each one crafting a long, poignant arc from innocence through the fogs and thorns of experience.— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Buyers are increasingly hunting for lower price points to round out their assortments.— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
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The company also described merchandising and inventory moves aimed at reenergizing its assortments.— CBS News, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/muddles. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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