What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
jumble
Example
The drawer was a jumble of socks, underwear, and t-shirts. [jumble: noun]
Example
I couldn't make sense of the jumble of words on the page. [jumble: noun]
Example
The party was a jumble of people, music, and noise. [jumble: noun]
shuffle
Example
He shuffled across the room to avoid waking up the baby. [shuffle: verb]
Example
She shuffled the deck of cards before dealing them out. [shuffle: verb]
Example
The manager decided to shuffle the team's lineup for the next game. [shuffle: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shuffle is more commonly used than jumble in everyday language. Shuffle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while jumble is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between jumble and shuffle?
Both jumble and shuffle are relatively informal words, but shuffle may be slightly more formal due to its association with card games and other formal activities.