garbled
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈɡɑː.bəld/
KK: /ˈɡɑːrbəld/
adjective
Definition
Difficult to understand because it has been mixed up or distorted.
Example
The message was so garbled that I couldn't make sense of it.
Conversation
Did you hear that message? It was so garbled I couldn't understand anything.
Yeah, I thought it was just me!
I wonder if they were having technical issues that caused the garbled audio.
Probably, it happens sometimes during calls.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
confused
jumbled
muddled
Antonyms
clear
lucid
intelligible
verb
Definition
To mix up or confuse something, making it unclear or difficult to understand.
Example
The message was garbled during transmission, and no one could understand it.
Tense Forms
Past: garbled
Past Participle: garbled
Conversation
Did you hear that podcast episode last night?
Yeah, but honestly, the audio was so garbled I could barely understand it.
I know, right? It was frustrating to miss so much of the conversation.
Root Explanation
Garbled → It originates from the Old French word 'garbler', meaning to sift or to sort. The word 'garbled' refers to something that has been mixed up or distorted, often making it unclear or confusing.
Memory Tip
Think of the Old French word 'garbler', which means to sort or sift through things. This helps you remember that 'garbled' refers to something that has been mixed up or distorted.
Visually Confused Words
ungarbled
warbled
marbled
gnarled
garle
gable
ungarbed
ungabled