1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
spattered with muck from the pigpen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in junk
that which is of low quality or worth
what's this muck that you've been watching on TV, anyway?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
there's some solid substance in this book, but the reader has to trudge through a lot of muck to get to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to stain
to make dirty
you can't work in the garden and not expect to muck your clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of muck
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Just as happened in the Tri-Lakes pilot at the Lake Arrowhead marina, results showed more oxygen and less muck at the bottom, meaning less phosphorus being released.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
And when the commercial harvest was closed, at least one federal official speculated that any further research might get curtailed, since those anglers, many of them rich and well connected, wouldn’t want scientists mucking around in what had become their territory.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for muck
Noun
Over the last 15 years, more than two-thirds of the waterway has been slowly brought back to life through concerted efforts to remove or cap toxic muck.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Just as happened in the Tri-Lakes pilot at the Lake Arrowhead marina, results showed more oxygen and less muck at the bottom, meaning less phosphorus being released.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Of course, Google doesn't make this easy for people who aren't comfortable mucking around with a command-line terminal and making under-the-hood changes to their Android settings.
—ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
And when the commercial harvest was closed, at least one federal official speculated that any further research might get curtailed, since those anglers, many of them rich and well connected, wouldn’t want scientists mucking around in what had become their territory.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for muck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muck
Noun
-
Makeup, oils and dirt can quickly build up on the brushes — and on your skin.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Using too much detergent can lead to residue buildup in the towel fibers, which traps dirt and dulls the white color over time.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Star reported that three downpours turned the area near the stage into a mess in 2014, when mud-slinging left many attendees covered in goop.—
Dan Kelly
October 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
-
While clearing mud out of the car, a volunteer — who was assisting with the cleanup and recovery process — discovered an old Bible inside the Mercedes.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Click Report above the reading pane, then choose Report phishing or Report junk from the dropdown.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
This street of stucco houses with little front yards and picket fences bordered on a kind of no-man’s-land filled with junk yards and warehouses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those three garbage-time scores might have bought him another week.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some Waukesha residents voice concerns The city hasn't kept its $160 garbage and tax collection proposal a secret.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Skipping regular washes—Letting white towels sit too long between washes gives body oils, makeup, and mildew more time to settle into the fibers and stain them permanently.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
For years, the fashion industry’s color palette has come at a steep price—plastic-heavy pigments, toxic dyes and dirty processes that stain more than fabric.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The plot thickened last year when Canadian authorities linked Bishnoi to the targeting of Sikh separatists on its soil, including the killing of activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in British Columbia in 2023.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Wood ash can be a valuable addition to your garden soil, bringing with it essential nutrients like potassium and phosphorus.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Add ground beef, ground pork, green chiles, cheese, chipotle chiles, adobo sauce, salt, cumin, and 2 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce; gently mix using a spatula or hands until just combined.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Again, the wine’s sweetness and acidity combined with the saltiness and tanginess of the cheese are a match made in foodie heaven.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Packers gonna Packers, but at least Doubs is clear of that nonsense.—
Jess Bryant,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Assembly Bill 325 is economically illiterate nonsense that attempts to ban the use of pricing algorithms that help businesses determine prices.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muck. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share