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

The two were also barefoot after losing their shoes in the thick mud. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025

The men got stuck in the mud in the Big Cypress National Preserve when their ATV ran out of gas, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025

Verb

The pig slobbers mud on my right leg as Grace jaunts away. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

No matter how much dirt or mud you (or the dog) track in, this rug will keep coming out of the washing machine like new. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 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