muddy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmə-dē How to pronounce muddy (audio)
Definition of muddynext
1
as in mucky
full of or covered with soft wet earth please do not walk in the house with muddy boots on, as you will get the carpet dirty

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2
as in turbid
having visible particles in liquid suspension whether muddy or not, water taken from lakes and streams should be boiled by campers

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3
as in dusty
not clean we were all muddy after playing outside

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

muddy

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work

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2
as in to blur
to make (something) unclear to the understanding that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve

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3
as in to dirty
to make dirty forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of muddy
Adjective
One man desperately clung to a light pole in Cambridge City as muddy, brown water swirled around him, before he was eventually rescued. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Photos and television footage showed widespread damage after daylight, with homes, cars and parts of railway tracks flooded with muddy water. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
Bird baths should be placed at least 10 to 15 feet away from nearby feeders to keep bird seed and other debris from muddying up the water. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026 Some choices stray a bit too far from the immediacy of Lay’s voice and melodies, and in doing so, the sound gets muddied. — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for muddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddy
  1. mucky
  2. turbid
  3. dusty
  4. confuse
  5. blur
  6. dirty
  7. slimy
  8. murky
Adjective
  • Still, my sneakers can feel way too heavy in the humidity and heat, and open-toe sandals aren’t the smartest option in mucky subway stations.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 22 July 2026
  • When Mom spoke, her voice came out thick and mucky.
    — Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of mucky
Adjective
  • Since then, shifting groundwater and agricultural activity nearby have made the water increasingly turbid.
    — Sarah Evans, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Why does Mitch find the view beautiful, though the water is turbid and he is enveloped in the scent of incense and candles?
    — Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Definition of turbid
Adjective
  • Video of the remarkable rescue filmed by Osorio shows the tiny infant in a dusty bodysuit being carefully pulled out of the wreckage.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Others were more barren, with dusty volcanic rocks and jagged cliffs surrounding secluded turquoise coves.
    — Annie Daly, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dusty
Verb
  • This reserve should not be confused with a permanent investment strategy.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The light entering my eyes would bend at two different angles, confusing my brain and making my vision a little blurry.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • Combining archival and original footage, and blurring the categories of documentary essay and the poetic avant-garde, Pelechian’s visionary works revolve around a grand recurring theme of humankind’s tumultuous relationship to the natural world.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But this summer, the lines between business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing became increasingly blurred.
    — Taylor Cheek-Mundy, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • The zipper shoe compartment keeps your shoes from dirtying up your clothing, and the massive interior can hold many outfits for your weekend getaway.
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The vinegar will also help break down the mucilage, making the pods less slimy.
    — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Others, however, pick up strange flavors and are unappetizingly slimy and rubbery.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of slimy
Adjective
  • But in the world of online streaming, the business of running a record label or record label business has gotten a lot murkier.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Its other requirements for induction, however, are a bit murky.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of murky

Browse Nearby Words

muddling
muddy
muddying
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Cite this Entry

“Muddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of muddy for Spanish Speakers

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