garbled
word
Definition
Something that is garbled is unclear, mixed up, or hard to understand because it has been distorted or jumbled.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly used for speech, writing, or electronic messages that become hard to understand, e.g., due to noise or technical errors. Typically formal or neutral. Often found in the context of 'garbled message', 'garbled text', or 'garbled speech'. Not used for deliberate lies, just confusion or distortion.
Example Sentences
The news report sounded garbled on the radio.
basic
The recording was garbled and hard to understand.
basic
His message came through all garbled.
basic
Sorry, your call was really garbled—can you repeat that?
natural
The email arrived with garbled characters because of an encoding error.
natural
All I could hear on the walkie-talkie was a bunch of garbled words.
natural