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 of mud

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

This secluded and mountainous chunk of property offers more elevation change than most of the American Midwest combined—and thanks to the recent 40-plus inches of rain, a similarly Midwestern potential to produce ungodly amounts of mud. —Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026

Inspectors ensure boaters have cleaned off any plants, mud and debris, drained live wells or tanks that hold water, and dried everything completely before launching in another waterbody. —Joshua Haiar, States Newsroom, 21 Jan. 2026

Verb

Book the luxurious three-hour Frutos De La Vid (From The Vine) treatment, which includes a grape seed body scrub and red wine must mud wrap, along with your choice of massage. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2026

That blast obliterated a park boardwalk, ejecting rocks and mud hundreds of feet into the air. —Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Dec. 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