mud

noun

ˈməd How to pronounce mud (audio)
Definition of mudnext
as in sludge
soft wet earth we cannot play softball today because the field turned to mud after last night's heavy rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 mud The coffin was covered with mud, and, before bringing it inside his house, Luwi cleaned it off with a bucket of water and a sponge. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Tel Abu Saify was first excavated decades ago, and includes ancient military structures, dockyards, mud brick enclosures, and a temple. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The cellar quickly filled with mud following a strong downpour. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 And so that was weird and hard — to sort of put yourself into something like that, and then for them to be really dragged through the mud by the critics. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mud
  1. sludge
  2. muck
  3. gravel
  4. sand
Noun
  • Currently, the Louisiana sludge metal band has been busy headlining arenas across North America and opening stadiums in the UK and Europe for the likes of System of a Down and Queens Of The Stone Age.
    — Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The ball rolled to the sticky floor, littered with crushed six-pack carriers and a fine layer of winter sludge, and two competitors dove to fetch it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Mops of ghostly streamers, some of them longer than my arm, were waving like tentacles atop layers of black muck.
    — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even when House of the Dragon is at its best, the prophecy skitters in to make a muck of things.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • The gravel runway is nearly 4,000 feet long and is located on the slope of a more-than-2,300-foot-high mountain, according to FAA maps.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Vibram said the rubber compound performs in wet and dry conditions, with particular emphasis on grip across wet gravel and mixed terrain.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • Dozens of sunken skiffs and speedboats, long written off by their owners, sat dry on the sand.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While there is a small boardwalk on the sand in between loungers, it’d be tricky to access for anyone with mobility issues.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sand

Browse Nearby Words

mucky
mud
muddied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on mud

Nglish: Translation of mud for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mud

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