murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē How to pronounce murky (audio)
Definition of murkynext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight

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2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the murky shadows of the cemetery

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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west

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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning a murky reply to a question about his intentions

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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment

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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 murky Authorities continue to unpack the details around the harrowing incident, many of which remain murky. — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 In the five years since student athletes have been allowed to earn money, college sports have become a chaotic and murky marketplace where players can move from team to team chasing a payday. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Light takes on an ethereal glow and colors blend into murky browns and blacks. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026 And when an open component and a proprietary controller interact and something fails, liability can become genuinely murky. — John Healy, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. hazy
  4. ambiguous
  5. vague
  6. bleak
  7. misty
  8. cryptic
Adjective
  • Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • There’s nothing about the white bedding, dark-wood furniture, and tan carpeting that will knock your socks off—but nothing that will make your toes curl, either.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Guadagnino and screenwriter Simon Rich mold the material from dark humor through technocratic giddiness to sobering horror.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • But the numbers that could give clarity on disabled kids in foster care are harder to come by — partly because of the sometimes hazy definitions of disability but also because of the failure of child welfare providers to even count them.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As the show became a cultural juggernaut, some criticized its vigilante justice and the hazy line between law enforcement and journalism.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • Here, the movie acquires an ambiguous power, and the proceedings begin to head south.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • To reveal more of Okita’s endlessly surprising and playfully ambiguous script would be to rob audiences of the film’s numerous pleasures, which run the gamut from hearty belly-laughs to heartbreaking melodrama.
    — James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Okay, Noah is somehow a Manhunter, though how this came to be is left vague and almost intangible for much of the episode.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The law includes an exception for when a pregnant person’s life is in danger, but physicians and lawyers have said the language is vague and could be interpreted differently by different doctors and hospitals.
    — Ciara McCarthy October 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Whether or not this year takes the top slot in that bleak ranking is still unclear.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Its successes have provided a spark of optimism in what has otherwise been a bleak few months for Ukraine.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • At Emporio Armani, models walked the runway in gossamer-thin tanks and misty trousers that toed the line between lavender and blue.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 June 2026
  • Base yourself in Cerro Verde or Lago de Coatepeque for crater views and misty mornings above the clouds, then climb Santa Ana Volcano.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2026
Definition of misty
Adjective
  • Emanuel’s cryptic comment comes amid claims that Meghan was in early talks to star in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As for what’s going on with the cryptic buying up of team shares, that remains an ongoing mystery for much of the episode — one that ends without Higgins and Rebecca finding out who’s really behind the shenanigans.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of cryptic

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Cite this Entry

“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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