WordValemurky
dark, dim, and unclear
In more detail
1. (adjective) dark and difficult to see through, usually because of dirt or clouds
2. (adjective) unclear, confusing, or suspicious in a way that makes you distrust something
Examples
- 1. The water in the pond was murky and cold.
- 2. The company's murky financial dealings were later investigated by the authorities.
How to use murky
Murky describes both literal darkness or obscurity (murky water, murky fog) and figurative obscurity suggesting something concealed or suspicious (murky circumstances, murky history). It carries an undertone of distrust or unease in figurative uses, distinguishing it from neutral words like unclear.
Common phrases
- murky water
- murky past
- murky depths
- murky dealings
- murky business
Synonyms
cloudy · turbid · unclear · shadowy · opaque
Opposites
clear · transparent · lucid
Word family
murkily (adverb) · murkiness (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use murky to mean simply dark or dim without the sense of obstruction or suspicion; it specifically implies something that obscures vision or understanding, not merely low light.
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