to remuddle the issue

9.3

To make a problem more confusing instead of clearer

phrasal verb

: confundir el asunto

Every time he speaks, he manages to remuddle the issue instead of clarifying it.

Examples

The new evidence served to remuddle the issue rather than resolve it.
Don't remuddle the issue with unnecessary details!
She only seemed to remuddle the issue with her complicated explanation.
He always remuddles the issue during discussions.
Every time he speaks, he manages to remuddle the issue instead of clarifying it.
The new evidence served to remuddle the issue rather than resolve it.
She only seemed to remuddle the issue with her complicated explanation.

Synonyms

to confuse

vsto remuddle the issue

266 1.9

Make someone unable to think clearly or make something hard to understand

targets situations and problems rather than producing mental inability

to complicate

vsto remuddle the issue

101 4.1

To make something harder to understand or do

is about adding confusing complexity rather than just general change

to mix up

vsto remuddle the issue

Informal

65 2.7

To make people confused and things messy

refers specifically to making problems more confusing not only disorganizing

to make matters worse

vsto remuddle the issue

37 4.0

To cause a situation to become more difficult or unpleasant

focuses on increasing confusion and complication rather than only worsening outcomes

to muddle

vsto remuddle the issue

33 4.8

Mix things up so they are unclear

emphasizes increasing confusion in a problem rather than mere disorder

to tangle

vsto remuddle the issue

28 4.7

To make a story or idea hard to understand

focuses on causing general extra confusion rather than physical entanglement

to muddy the waters

vsto remuddle the issue

Informal

7 7.2

Make a topic more confusing by adding unclear details

is more literal and focuses on making problems harder to resolve

to snarl

vsto remuddle the issue

6 7.1

To make something more confused or tangled

puts emphasis on general confusion rather than physical tangles

to overcomplicate

vsto remuddle the issue

3 5.8

Make something harder than it needs to be

is specifically about increasing confusion rather than needless complexity

to knot

vsto remuddle the issue

2 6.5

To make something tangled and difficult to understand

focuses on increasing confusion rather than creating a literal physical entanglement

to snarl up

vsto remuddle the issue

1 7.8

Make things tangled or blocked so progress slows

is about increasing confusion even when it does not block progress

to muddy up

vsto remuddle the issue

Informal

6.7

To make an idea or situation unclear and confusing

applies to worsening clarity of problems rather than other changes

to remuddle

vsto remuddle the issue

9.9

Make plans or other things confused and messy again after they were sorted

is broader and applies to increasing confusion whether or not things were solved before

to ravel

vsto remuddle the issue

8.4

To make a situation or story more confusing

is a wider term covering added confusion not only physical tangling

to embrangle

vsto remuddle the issue

Archaic

9.9

To make something more confused or tangled

usually highlights entangled parts whereas the key stresses making problems confusing

to make heavy weather of

vsto remuddle the issue

8.2

Act as if a task is much harder than it is

is about adding real confusion rather than only exaggerating difficulty

Antonyms

to clarify

248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Confusing

to befuddle

11 7.8

to muddy the waters

Informal

7 7.2

to remuddle the issue

9.3

to obscure

86 7.0

to complicate

101 4.1

Surface Forms

remuddle the issue infinitive

remuddled the issue past

remuddled the issue past participle

remuddling the issue present participle

remuddles the issue third person singular

Morphology

remuddle + the + issue

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'remuddle' is transparently analyzable as re- (again) + 'muddle' (to confuse), and 'the issue' = the problem, so the phrase literally means to make the problem more confused. Even if 'remuddle' is rare, its morphology is regular and a learner who knows the constituents can infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Remuddle the issue puts re- before muddle: re- means 'again' and muddle means to make a messy, confusing mix, so picture someone stirring a clear explanation until it becomes muddy again. That's why it means 'to make a problem or situation more confusing or complicated'.