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 notesIn plain EnglishDark and cloudy, or — figuratively — confusing and possibly dishonest.
Common pairings
murky water
murky past
murky details
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Word forms
- Comparative
- murkier
- Superlative
- murkiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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").
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.
