mud

1 of 2

noun

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

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
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.
Noun
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers in Texas have been cleaning mud, clearing out areas full of debris and listening to survivors’ stories. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025 About 20 yards beyond was a shallow pool of smelly, stagnant water surrounded by mud. Alann B. Steen, Outdoor Life, 10 July 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 See All Example Sentences for mud

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mud was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mud. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

mud

noun
ˈməd
: soft wet earth

More from Merriam-Webster on mud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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