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

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

Herders scooping murky water from a small pond in grasslands in South Sudan are well aware of the dangers they face if they drink it.

From BBC

The situation is even murkier when it comes to invertebrates like shrimp, squid and octopus.

From Salon

While the relative costs are clear, the issue of safety is murkier.

From BBC

Related Words

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