Muddle

To bring into a confused or disordered state; to mix things up; to cause someone to become confused, typically regarding a situation or matter.

This can also refer to a state of confusion or disorder itself. Often used to describe a state of mental disarray, unclear thinking, or inefficient action. A muddle implies a lack of clarity, precision, or systematic approach. The word encompasses both the act of causing confusion and the state of being confused. The causes of muddles can be varied, including poor organization, complex information, or emotional distress.

Muddle meaning with examples

• The detective’s investigation hit a dead end, and clues started to muddle the case, as conflicting information made it difficult to determine who the real killer was, further obfuscating the truth. As a result the police were completely lost.
• Trying to read the instructions, Sarah quickly muddled her understanding due to their ambiguous and contradictory nature. The complex, unclear language only made it worse, and she was lost in her attempt to build the toy.
• The sudden change of plans completely muddled their carefully laid out schedule. Confusion set in amongst the event organizers and the last minute switch had the effect of complicating the situation greatly.
• After a long day of exams, the students found their brains were muddled. They struggled to make clear decisions, and found simple tasks difficult to manage. Everyone felt out of sorts.