murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē 

murkier; murkiest

1

: characterized by a heavy dimness or obscurity caused by or like that caused by overhanging fog or smoke

the murky bottom of the lake

2

: characterized by thickness and heaviness of air : foggy, misty

rain poured down from murky skies

—Newsweek

3

: darkly vague or obscure

murky official rhetoric

He offered a murky explanation.

murkily

ˈmər-kə-lē 

adverb

murkiness

ˈmər-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• darkened
• dark

Examples of murky in a Sentence

She peered into one of the church's murky chapels.

a politician with a murky past

Recent Examples on the Web

The situation with Adams, who has a less than flattering history with the district, is a bit murkier. —Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

The Miami Hurricanes’ place in the ACC landscape As for Miami’s conference standing, things are a bit murkier now. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Right now, the future in New York looks murky. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

While some studies point to a decrease in sperm count worldwide due to environmental and lifestyle factors, the scientific evidence to support or refute Kennedy's exact claims is murky. —Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing murky

• murky waters

Rhymes for murky

• jerky
• perky
• quirky
• turki

Kids Definition

murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē 

murkier; murkiest

1

: very dark or gloomy

2

: foggy sense 1, misty

3

: difficult to understand

a murky reply designed to confuse

murkiness noun