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Dictionary.com
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.

"Inevitably it will somewhat muddy the waters," Rothwell says.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

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

So, you might ask, why muddy the waters by adding a layer of difficulty and introducing a numerical scoring element?

From New York Times • Feb. 19, 2024

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

“Rae, let’s not do this. You’re an amazing girl and we’ve got a good thing going, so let’s not muddy the waters, okay?”

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone