muddle through

verb

muddled through; muddling through; muddles through

intransitive verb

: to achieve a degree of success without much planning or effort

Examples of muddle through in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All the answers here, among others, were useful for muddling through the process. — Terry Ward, CNN Money, 11 June 2026 Trump won’t be able to muddle through with a pretend-and-extend approach to the cease-fire. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026 Despite that, or perhaps because of it, the global economy, oil and markets have muddled through — but analysts warn that can’t last forever. — Gerry Doyle, Bloomberg, 9 June 2026 But allowing your small team to muddle through without support diffuses their efforts across too many areas, weakening their overall effectiveness. — Victoria Burkhart, Forbes.com, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for muddle through

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of muddle through was circa 1864

Rhymes for muddle through

See All Rhymes for muddle through

Browse Nearby Words

muddler
muddle through
muddlingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Muddle through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muddle%20through. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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