# garbled

/ˈɡɑɹbəɫd/ (US) · /ɡˈɑːbəld/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/garbled
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

mixed up and hard to understand. You use it for speech, writing, or a signal that has mistakes or unclear sounds.

For teachers: distorted or confused so that the original meaning is unclear or misleading, especially through transmission errors, poor reception, or faulty retelling. Often describes speech, text, or data.

## Examples

- The phone call is garbled and I miss half the words.
- The station announcement is garbled, so passengers crowd around the screen to check the platform number.
- Through the failing radio came only garbled fragments of the rescue order, forcing the team to guess at coordinates that could mean the difference between safety and disaster.

## Synonyms

jumbled, muddled, incoherent, distorted

## Antonyms

clear, coherent, understandable

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.