Showing results for muddy the waters. Search instead for muddied+waters.

Definitions

muddy the waters

VERB

disrupt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disturb rattle

STRONG

agitate bollix confuse disarray discombobulate discompose disorder muddle rummage shake spoil throw unsettle

WEAK

mess up mix up muck up psych out put off rattle one's cage screw up upset the apple cart

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appease soothe

STRONG

calm clear up compose enlighten explain help order organize

WEAK

arrange ready

VERB

obscure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belie blind block out blur camouflage cloud confuse cover cover up darken dim disguise eclipse mask misrepresent muddy overshadow shroud veil

STRONG

adumbrate becloud bedim befog blear block cloak con equivocate falsify fog gray haze mist murk obfuscate overcast overcloud pettifog screen shade shadow stonewall wrap

WEAK

cloud the issue double-talk fuzz gloom throw up smoke screen

Antonyms

STRONGEST

brighten clarify clear clear up explain lay out lighten reveal uncover unmask

STRONG

open

WEAK

illuminate loose

VERB

perplex

Synonyms

STRONGEST

astonish astound baffle befuddle bewilder complicate confound dumbfound encumber mystify nonplus perturb puzzle surprise

STRONG

balk beset buffalo discombobulate discompose entangle fog involve jumble muck muddle pose rattle ravel stumble stump tangle thicken thwart

WEAK

get to snarl up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist bore calm clarify clear up enlighten expect explain explicate help

STRONG

exclude order organize soothe untangle untwist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some have tried to muddy the waters on the events of that day, but the record is clear.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

To muddy the waters further, another of Mark McDonald's panel of experts has said that in fact there was post-mortem evidence of air embolism in the babies.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025

A trial this week is likely to further muddy the waters for troops remaining in Los Angeles, as well as any deployed in D.C. to fight crime there.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2025

All of this tends to muddy the waters a bit around the question of fake license plates, which are hardly defensible on any of these grounds.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2023

Perhaps Elizebeth thought that if she insisted on joint credit, she would muddy the waters.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

muddy the waters

Example Sentences

Related Words