mud

1 of 2

noun

ˈməd 

1

: a slimy sticky mixture of solid material with a liquid and especially water

especially : soft wet earth

2

: abusive and malicious remarks or charges

political campaigners slinging mud at each other

3

: anathema sense 1a

—usually used in the phrase one's name is mud

4

: a mixture of water, clay, and chemicals used in oil-well drilling and having various functions (such as lubrication and cooling of the bit and flushing of rock particles to the surface)

mud

2 of 2

verb

mudded; mudding

transitive verb

1

: to make muddy or turbid

2

: to treat or plaster with mud

Synonyms

Noun

• sludge
• muck
• gravel
• sand

Examples of mud in a Sentence

Noun

He tracked mud into the house.

The car was stuck in the mud.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In 2023, heavy rains stranded attendees in deep mud, forcing conservation of food and water and leading to at least one reported death. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025

Although the space station is without dirt and mud, astronauts’ clothes get dirty from sweat during their daily exercise. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025

Verb

Parts of the home were found in the river, twisted around the trees, some covered by branches, bark and mud the water left behind. —Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 9 July 2025

Crews will remove debris and hundreds of sandbags, wash surfaces and remove silt or mud up to several inches thick. —Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mudde, probably from Middle Low German

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mud

• as clear as mud
• drag someone's name through the mud
• drag through the mire/mud
• drilling mud
• mud dauber
• mud flap
• mud puppy
• mud season
• mud turtle
• sling/throw mud
• someone's name is mud
• stick-in-the-mud

Rhymes for mud

• blood
• bud
• crud
• dud
• flood
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud
• lifeblood
• youngblood

Kids Definition

mud

noun

ˈməd

: soft wet earth