— muddledness, muddlement , n. — muddlingly , adv.
/mud"l/ , v. , muddled, muddling , n.
v.t.
1. to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.
2. to cause to become mentally confused.
3. to cause to become confused or stupid with or as if with an intoxicating drink.
4. to make muddy or turbid, as water.
5. to mix or stir (a cocktail, chocolate, etc.).
6. Ceram. to smooth (clay) by rubbing it on glass.
v.i.
7. to behave, proceed, or think in a confused or aimless fashion or with an air of improvisation: Some people just muddle along, waiting for their big break.
8. muddle through , to achieve a certain degree of success but without much skill, polish, experience, or direction: None of us knew much about staging a variety show, so we just had to muddle through.
n.
9. the state or condition of being muddled, esp. a confused mental state.
10. a confused, disordered, or embarrassing condition; mess.
[ 1540-50; MUD + -LE; c. MD moddelen to muddy ]
Syn. 1. confuse, botch, bungle, spoil.