Muddies

The word 'muddies' can be used as a verb, describing the action of making something unclear, confused, or dirty. This can apply literally to physical substances, like water becoming muddy, or figuratively to concepts, arguments, or emotions. It implies a loss of clarity or purity, obscuring the original state or meaning. The act often involves agitation or mixing of elements that lead to a state of murkiness or complexity, and thus a lessened state of ease and understanding for a subject.

Muddies meaning with examples

• The sudden downpour muddies the previously crystal-clear river, turning the water a murky brown. The children playing in the puddles quickly muddies their clothes with dirt and debris, much to their mothers dismay. The artist, unfortunately, muddies the colors on his palette by mixing too many shades together and ruining the effect. The spilled coffee muddies the already complex design printed on the newspaper.
• His evasive answers constantly muddies the situation, making it difficult to determine the truth. Trying to address the situation, the professor muddies the philosophical debate about the meaning of life with complex jargon that the student is unable to decode. The political scandal that arose quickly muddies the reputations of everyone involved, causing confusion about the actual events. This constant stream of information often muddies the facts, leading to misinterpretations and a lack of understanding.
• The complex emotions of grief often muddies the ability to think rationally about the circumstances of the death. Her negative feelings often muddies the joy of her relationships with her family, causing constant tension. The intense internal debate within him muddies his thoughts, preventing him from seeing the best possible outcome. This childhood experience muddies the lens through which she sees the world as an adult, impacting her decisions.
• He carefully stirs the clay, hoping that the careful process doesn't muddies the texture, making the process much more difficult. This new scientific research that comes out often muddies the previously established understanding of how the human body works. The sudden and unforeseen event sadly muddies the entire timeline and planning of the trip, causing great distress. The company's conflicting reports quickly muddies the financial statements, hiding the truth from investors and the government.