turbid

adjective

tur·​bid ˈtər-bəd How to pronounce turbid (audio)
1
a
: thick or opaque with or as if with roiled sediment
a turbid stream
b
: heavy with smoke or mist
2
a
: deficient in clarity or purity : foul, muddy
turbid depths of degradation and miseryC. I. Glicksberg
b
: characterized by or producing obscurity (as of mind or emotions)
an emotionally turbid response
turbidity noun
turbidly adverb
turbidness noun

Did you know?

Turbid and turgid (which means "swollen or distended" or "overblown, pompous, or bombastic") are frequently mistaken for one another, and it's no wonder. Not only do the two words differ by only a letter, they are often used in contexts where either word could fit. For example, a flooded stream can be simultaneously cloudy and swollen, and badly written prose might be both unclear (another sense of turbid) and grandiloquent. Nevertheless, the distinction between these two words, however fine, is an important one for conveying exact shades of meaning, so it's a good idea to keep them straight. Turbid, like its relative turbulent, comes ultimately from the Latin noun turba, meaning "confusion" or "crowd," while turgid comes from the Latin verb turgēre, "to be swollen."

Examples of turbid in a Sentence

the pond water became turbid from our swimming and splashing
Recent Examples on the Web These tiny freshwater fish are found in turbid low altitude streams on the southern and eastern slopes of the Pegu Ran mountain range in Myanmar. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The use of both bilateral and unilateral contractions means that a greater variety of sounds can be produced, according to the study, and researchers say the fish use the pulses to communicate with each other in turbid waters. Jack Guy, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 Every attempt to climb out of the water ended in the snap of cracking ice and a gray body sliding back into the turbid slush. Nick Fasciano, Outdoor Life, 8 Feb. 2024 Vines cross your path, a leaf dances in a pinprick of sun, a patch of turbid water like polished gunmetal promises a clearing in the distance. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2024 These seawalls result in more turbid water which in turn resuspends sediment into the water column, blocking light from reaching the bottom and inhibiting seagrass growth. Thomas F. Ries, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2024 Many of the highland reservoirs here are clear and rocky, providing a nice change of setting from turbid Mississippi River tributaries. Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 15 June 2023 Smith somehow manages to negotiate these oily, turbid waters with amazing grace, sure-footedness, and acuity. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023 Streams coming straight from glaciers are cold, nutrient-poor, turbid and fast-flowing. Lesley Evans Ogden, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turbid.' 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

Latin turbidus confused, turbid, from turba confusion, crowd, probably from Greek tyrbē confusion

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of turbid was in 1626

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Dictionary Entries Near turbid

Cite this Entry

“Turbid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbid. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

turbid

adjective
tur·​bid ˈtər-bəd How to pronounce turbid (audio)
: clouded or discolored by sediment
a turbid stream
turbidity noun

Medical Definition

turbid

adjective
tur·​bid ˈtər-bəd How to pronounce turbid (audio)
: thick or opaque with matter in suspension : cloudy or muddy in appearance
turbid urine

More from Merriam-Webster on turbid

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