muddle

About 0.69 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To mix together, to mix up; to confuse.

   Young children tend to muddle their words.

2. verb To mash slightly for use in a cocktail.

   He muddled the mint sprigs in the bottom of the glass.

3. verb To dabble in mud.
4. verb To make turbid or muddy.
5. verb To think and act in a confused, aimless way.
6. verb To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially.
7. verb To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated.
8. noun A mixture; a confusion; a garble.

   The muddle of nervous speech he uttered did not have much meaning.

Similar words

welter jumble mess kettle of fish clutter smother fix addle hole puddle

Often followed by

of through and in the along that about is

Word family

muddled muddler muddlers muddles muddling muddly