sludge

noun

1
: mud, mire
especially : a muddy deposit (as on a riverbed) : ooze
2
: a muddy or slushy mass, deposit, or sediment: such as
a
: precipitated solid matter produced by water and sewage treatment processes
b
: muddy sediment in a steam boiler
c
: a precipitate or settling (such as a mixture of impurities and acid) from a mineral oil
3
sludgy adjective

Examples of sludge in a Sentence

after a day of heavy rain, the fairgrounds had turned into pure sludge I can't bring myself to read that sludge.
Recent Examples on the Web Led by Karla Chubb and working with Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox, the Dublin four-piece draws inspiration from Savages, Bauhaus, and LCD Soundsystem, degrading nervous hooks with distortion and sludge but never losing sight of the dancefloor. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 5 Jan. 2024 Is there anything more frustrating than putting on a new pair of boots in the colder months, and then, inadvertently, stepping into an ankle-deep sidewalk puddle of sludge? Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 In 2022, Maine banned the use of sludge as fertilizer due to contamination with PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to cancers and hormonal problems. Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 The caustic gunk is usually relegated to giant landfills, unless something like an industrial accident unleashes torrents of the sludge, as was unfortunately the case for rural Hungarian residents back in 2010. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024 Five current and former local government officials from across Florida told the Times fertilizer bans are helping their communities decrease pollution that can fuel harmful algal blooms like red tide or toxic blue-green sludge. Max Chesnes, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 Although there are many silhouettes to choose from, Meghan’s form-fitting style is great for those looking to tuck their pants into boots or keep their hems from dragging through sludge once snow starts to melt. Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Photos from the scene show recovery workers wading through thick black sludge, with huge areas of the beach covered in oil. Abel Alvarado, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024 Multiple port-a-potties had fallen, adding to the sludge. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sludge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English slugge, perhaps alteration of slicche mud, slush; akin to Old High German slīh mire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sludge was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sludge

Cite this Entry

“Sludge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sludge. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sludge

noun
1
: mud, mire
2
: a muddy or slushy mass
especially : solid matter produced by water and sewage treatment processes
sludgy adjective

Medical Definition

sludge

1 of 2 noun
: a semisolid precipitated mass or deposit
biliary sludge
especially : sludged blood

sludge

2 of 2 intransitive verb
sludged; sludging
: to form sludge
positions that cause blood to sludgeL. K. Altman

More from Merriam-Webster on sludge

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