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adj

murky

MUR-kee

Murky (adj) means Dark and hard to see through, especially describing water, fog, or light. Example: “The pond water was too murky to see the bottom.”

adj
1
Dark and hard to see through, especially describing water, fog, or light.
"The pond water was too murky to see the bottom."
"They drove through murky fog on the mountain road."
2
Vague, unclear, or suspicious, especially about someone's motives or past.
"Details of the deal remain murky."
"He has a murky history with the company's finances."

How to use murky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDark and cloudy, or — figuratively — confusing and possibly dishonest.

Common pairings
murky water murky past murky details

Word forms

murkier comparative, murkiest superlative

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Fill the gap

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The pond water was too _____ to see the bottom.

Etymology

From Middle English mirky, related to Old Norse myrkr ("dark") and the Slavic word family behind Russian mrak ("darkness").

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “murky” mean?

The word “murky” means dark and hard to see through, especially describing water, fog, or light. In plain terms, dark and cloudy, or — figuratively — confusing and possibly dishonest.

How do you pronounce “murky”?

“Murky” is pronounced MUR-kee (/ˈmɜː(ɹ)ki/ in IPA).

How do you use “murky” in a sentence?

Here is “murky” used in a sentence: “The pond water was too murky to see the bottom.”

What is another word for “murky”?

Words with a similar meaning to “murky” include dark.

What part of speech is “murky”?

“Murky” is an adjective.

Where does the word “murky” come from?

The word “murky” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mirky, related to Old Norse myrkr ("dark") and the Slavic word family behind Russian mrak ("darkness").

How many meanings does “murky” have?

“Murky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dark and hard to see through, especially describing water, fog, or light.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial