muddy
MUH-dee
Muddy (adj) means Covered in, or full of, mud. Example: “We hiked along a muddy trail after the rain.”
adj
1
Covered in, or full of, mud.
"We hiked along a muddy trail after the rain."
"She wiped her muddy boots at the door."
2
Not clear; unclear or confused, as of sound, colour, or thinking.
"The recording sounded muddy, with the vocals hard to make out."
"His argument was muddy and hard to follow."
verb
1
To make something unclear or confused.
"Adding more exceptions only muddied the rule further."
"Don't muddy the issue with irrelevant details."
How to use muddy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally covered in mud, or figuratively unclear/confusing.
Common pairings
muddy water
muddy the waters
muddy sound
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Word forms
- Plural
- muddies
- Third person singular
- muddies
- Past tense
- muddied
- Comparative
- muddier
- Superlative
- muddiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We hiked along a _____ trail after the rain.
Etymology
From mud plus the adjective suffix -y, going back to Old English roots.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for muddy
See all rhymes for muddy →Frequently asked questions
What does “muddy” mean?
The word “muddy” means covered in, or full of, mud. In plain terms, literally covered in mud, or figuratively unclear/confusing.
How do you pronounce “muddy”?
“Muddy” is pronounced MUH-dee (/ˈmʌdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “muddy” in a sentence?
Here is “muddy” used in a sentence: “We hiked along a muddy trail after the rain.”
What part of speech is “muddy”?
Depending on how it is used, “muddy” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “muddy” come from?
The word “muddy” comes from Old English. From mud plus the adjective suffix -y, going back to Old English roots.
Is “muddy” a common word?
“Muddy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “muddy” have?
“Muddy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in, or full of, mud.
What is the difference between muddy and dirty?
Muddy specifically means covered in or full of mud, a wet mixture of soil and water, while dirty is a broader term for anything unclean regardless of the substance involved. Something can be dirty without being muddy, but anything muddy is necessarily dirty.
What does it mean to say someone's thinking is "muddy"?
Used figuratively, muddy describes thinking, sound, or color that is unclear or confused rather than covered in actual mud. For example, "muddy reasoning" means reasoning that is unclear or difficult to follow.
Can muddy be used as a verb?
Yes, muddy can function as a verb meaning to make something unclear or confused, as in "this new evidence muddies the case." It is frequently used figuratively in this verb form to describe confusing an issue or argument.
