Muddle (from the free Merriam-Webster)

¹mud·dle

verb \ˈmə-d^əl\

mud·dledmud·dling\ˈməd-liŋ, ˈmə-d^əl-iŋ\

Definition of MUDDLE

transitive verb

1

: to make turbid or muddy

2

: to befog or stupefy especially with liquor

3

: to mix confusedly

4

: to make a mess of : bungle

intransitive verb

: to think or act in a confused aimless way

— mud·dler \ˈməd-lər, ˈmə-d^əl-ər\noun

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Examples of MUDDLE

1. muddled by too much well-meaning advice>
2. muddled the household accounts>

Origin of MUDDLE

probably from obsolete Dutch moddelen, from Middle Dutch, from modde mud; akin to Middle Low German mudde

First Known Use: 1676