murky

[ mur-kee ]

adjective

, murk·i·er, murk·i·est.

1. dark, gloomy, and cheerless.

   Antonyms: cheery, bright

2. obscure or thick with mist, haze, etc., as the air.

   Synonyms: opaque, obscure, indefinite, hazy, confusing, misty, lowering, cloudy

   Antonyms: clear

3. (of liquid) not clear; cloudy with or as if with sediment.

   Antonyms: transparent, pellucid, limpid, clear

4. not clearly expressed; vague; unclear; confused:

   a murky statement.

murky

/ ˈmɜːkɪ /

adjective

1. gloomy or dark
2. cloudy or impenetrable as with smoke or fog

Derived Forms

• ˈmurkiness, noun
• ˈmurkily, adverb

Other Words From

• murki·ly adverb
• murki·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of murky¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mirky; murk, -y ¹

Synonym Study

See dark.

Example Sentences

Onscreen, the details of this fabricated, composite mythology get a little murky.

From New York Times

The little containers are labeled “mystery color” so you don’t know whether your mac will turn out a murky green or a Pepto Bismol pink.

From New York Times

But mud and debris have turned it murky brown and damaged much of the equipment needed to pump it.

From Salon

The causal relationships are somewhat murky — for example, people with lower incomes may succumb more to diseases of despair like substance use disorder or overeating.

From Salon

He knew he would be upsetting some of those who benefit from the murky status quo when the $20bn project began.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloudy
• dark
• dim
• dirty
• dismal
• dreary
• foggy
• fuzzy
• misty
• muddy
• nebulous
• stormy