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
Joe Prince-Wright, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The Iran conflict has muddied expectations of imminent US Federal Reserve rate cuts, with rising oil prices reviving inflation fears and forcing investors to reassess how quickly the Fed can ease policy.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
But the BAFTAs muddied the waters (Robert Aramayo, not in the Oscar mix, was the unexpected winner).
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The waters have been muddied even more since then because, in the time since the Toronto deal, Therme has apparently raised enough money — including through a partnership with private equity — to actually buy the German businesses.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
Instead, lawmakers say the department skirted its legal obligation for greater transparency and muddied the waters by releasing an extensive list of names, ranging from celebrities to politicos, with little explanation accompanying them.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2026
In more mature planetary nebulae — or even in preplanetary nebulae that are closer to the end of their preplanetary stage (with hotter stars powering them) — the ejection process has been muddied by a thousand years or more of earlier ejecta being overtaken by faster-moving, more recent ejecta.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Economists warned that the overall economic picture remains muddied, including by statistical quirks and the aftereffects of the government shutdown this past fall, which disrupted the data that feeds into CPI.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
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
Former Managing Director Fabio Paratici being suspended for most of his time as Spurs’ chief decision-maker muddied the waters further.
—Joe Prince-Wright, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The Iran conflict has muddied expectations of imminent US Federal Reserve rate cuts, with rising oil prices reviving inflation fears and forcing investors to reassess how quickly the Fed can ease policy.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
But the BAFTAs muddied the waters (Robert Aramayo, not in the Oscar mix, was the unexpected winner).
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The waters have been muddied even more since then because, in the time since the Toronto deal, Therme has apparently raised enough money — including through a partnership with private equity — to actually buy the German businesses.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
Instead, lawmakers say the department skirted its legal obligation for greater transparency and muddied the waters by releasing an extensive list of names, ranging from celebrities to politicos, with little explanation accompanying them.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2026
In more mature planetary nebulae — or even in preplanetary nebulae that are closer to the end of their preplanetary stage (with hotter stars powering them) — the ejection process has been muddied by a thousand years or more of earlier ejecta being overtaken by faster-moving, more recent ejecta.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Economists warned that the overall economic picture remains muddied, including by statistical quirks and the aftereffects of the government shutdown this past fall, which disrupted the data that feeds into CPI.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddied
Adjective
-
With too much going on, its presentation can become muddled, and there’s a chance different sections of the track won’t come through clearly.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The 1988 original was a critical punching bag for its muddled storytelling, despite the pedigree of its songwriters.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And now New Idea is reporting that Baker’s ex, Rebecca Rigg, who is very close to Kidman, is a bit confused by the situation.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, DraftKings argues that consumers aren’t confused by DraftKings’ use of March Madness.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a portion that has been blurred, multiple shots can be heard.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Videos are blurred and don't show the man's condition.—
Siafa Lewis,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillipe’s teeth were often as wine-stained as his customers’.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His hands were stained navy blue.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The remains of these unknown creatures often puzzled their discoverers.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
This has puzzled researchers because lithium metal is soft, while the ceramic electrolytes used in these batteries are rigid.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Without shirking responsibility, the 52-year-old explained that her judgment had been clouded in part by other circumstances in her life.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Foster suffered a fractured right foot, a diagnosis that required surgery and immediately clouded his NCAA Tournament availability.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli strikes on oil facilities sparked massive pillars of fire and blackened the skies above Tehran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddied. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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