Word
muddle
Phoneticsmud·dle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmədəɫ/
UK/mˈʌdəl/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a state of confusion or a lack of order. You use this when things are messy or when someone is not thinking clearly.
n. a state of confusion, disorder, or mental disorientation. Often implies a lack of systematic arrangement or a failure to understand a situation clearly.
Examples
“The paperwork is in a complete muddle.”
“The schedule got into a terrible muddle after three different people tried to change the meeting times.”
“The legal proceedings descended into a bureaucratic muddle, with conflicting testimonies and missing evidence making a clear verdict nearly impossible to reach.”
Examples
simple
“The paperwork is in a complete muddle.”
contextual
“The schedule got into a terrible muddle after three different people tried to change the meeting times.”
complex
“The legal proceedings descended into a bureaucratic muddle, with conflicting testimonies and missing evidence making a clear verdict nearly impossible to reach.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the phrase 'in a muddle' or 'get into a muddle'.
Real-World Examples
“Before visiting a doctor, she had been muddling up words, forgetting people’s names and flooding the bathroom.” “The world has been able to muddle through the first few months of the Iran war, but the earliest efforts to keep oil markets balanced are running out of time.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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