Synonyms of muddle

muddle 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumble
• mess
• havoc
• confusion
• hell
• chaos
• disorder
• tangle
• disarray
• messiness
• disorganization
• heck
• shambles
• disorderliness
• disarrangement
• welter
• clutter
• tumble
• snake pit
• muss
• dishevelment
• free-for-all
• riot
• maze
• labyrinth
• anarchy
• misorder
• chance-medley
• disorderedness
• mare's nest
• snarl
• misrule
• mishmash
• maelstrom
• lawlessness
• web
• shuffle
• morass
• knot
• hodgepodge
• storm
• litter
• motley
• medley
• miscellany
• bollix

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• order
• system
• plan
• orderliness
• method
• pattern

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• daze
• haze
• fog
• spin
• trance
• stupor
• bewilderment
• dazedness
• perplexity
• reverie
• paralysis
• swoon
• delirium
• befuddlement
• malaise
• puzzlement
• cloudiness
• fogginess

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alertness
• levelheadedness

3

as in confusion

a state of mental uncertainty

the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confusion
• fog
• tangle
• perplexity
• bewilderment
• bafflement
• maze
• discombobulation
• mystification
• befuddlement
• bemusement
• bamboozlement
• puzzlement
• head-scratching
• discomfort
• confusedness
• distress
• distraction
• embarrassment
• whirl
• bewilderedness
• dismay
• discomfiture
• mortification
• commotion
• agitation
• upset
• turmoil
• perturbation
• disturbance
• disquiet
• chagrin
• abashment
• flurry
• dither
• disconcertment
• fuss
• fluster
• bother
• stew

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conviction
• confidence
• certainty
• assurance
• certitude
• positiveness
• sureness

4

as in variety

an unorganized collection or mixture of various things

a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumble
• variety
• assortment
• medley
• collage
• clutter
• mishmash
• hodgepodge
• scramble
• shuffle
• blend
• jungle
• mélange
• hotchpotch
• litter
• tangle
• patchwork
• amalgam
• botch
• stew
• farrago
• salad
• pastiche
• potpourri
• hash
• menagerie
• ragbag
• agglomeration
• smorgasbord
• gallimaufry
• montage
• rummage
• miscellanea
• mixed bag
• agglomerate
• ragout
• motley
• grab bag
• gumbo
• miscellany
• welter
• salmagundi
• jambalaya
• accumulation
• tumble
• alphabet soup
• crazy quilt
• combination
• patchwork quilt
• olio
• omnium-gatherum
• mess
• olla podrida
• macédoine
• detritus
• aggregate
• aggregation
• conglomerate
• notions
• conglomeration
• chaos
• confusion
• fusion
• disarray
• sundries
• morass
• mix-up
• compound
• odds and ends
• composite
• catchall
• disorder
• admixture
• oddments
• imbroglio
• disarrangement
• shambles
• intermixture
• commixture
• snarl
• alloy
• bollix
• dog's breakfast
• knot

muddle

2 of 2

verb

ˈmə-dᵊl 

1

as in to confuse

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confuse
• baffle
• puzzle
• perplex
• bewilder
• muddy
• maze
• fuddle
• befuddle
• discombobulate
• mystify
• embarrass
• confound
• bother
• flummox
• rattle
• bemuse
• fluster
• vex
• bamboozle
• disturb
• gravel
• disorient
• pose
• addle
• upset
• get
• befog
• stun
• fox
• buffalo
• beat
• unsettle
• blow one's mind
• stick
• distress
• disconcert
• disquiet
• stump
• go to one's head
• agitate
• discomfort
• discomfit
• nonplus
• deceive
• faze
• mislead
• mortify
• unhinge
• abash
• delude
• discountenance
• weird out
• dismay
• discompose
• perturb
• fool
• trick
• humbug
• chagrin
• snow
• misguide
• beguile
• gull
• dupe
• hoodwink
• hoax
• take in
• string along
• cozen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assure
• satisfy
• inform
• reassure
• enlighten

2

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of

some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disrupt
• confuse
• shuffle
• disturb
• disarray
• jumble
• upset
• scramble
• disorganize
• disarrange
• disorder
• derange
• dislocate
• mix (up)
• muss
• tumble
• hash
• tangle
• snarl
• disjoint
• tousle
• dishevel
• discompose
• embroil
• mess (up)
• clutter
• unsettle
• rumple
• stir (up)
• entangle
• perturb
• agitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• order
• organize
• array
• regulate
• arrange
• dispose
• range
• tidy
• draw up
• straighten (up)
• line
• marshal
• align
• line up
• marshall
• classify
• adjust
• systematize
• codify
• queue
• fix
• make up
• aline
• systemize
• spruce (up)
• methodize
• groom
• unscramble

Examples of muddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yet, in attempting to both medieval and thoroughly modern in its attitude and execution, the ambitious vision of Opening Ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly was a muddle of overreach, never really finding its narrative heart. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 July 2024

But a terrific muddle in the invaders’ plans and a conflict between their leaders resulted in their being trapped on the peninsula. —Rosanna Warren, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024

Verb

Nike’s less-than-stellar performance comes amid an economic environment muddled by stubborn inflation and price-conscious consumers. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 27 June 2024

The actress never fully manages to connect the dots, and Robyn’s journey from abrasive housemate to concerned, moral authority is muddled at best. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024