1
as in mucky
full of or covered with soft wet earth
please do not walk in the house with muddy boots on, as you will get the carpet dirty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbid
having visible particles in liquid suspension
whether muddy or not, water taken from lakes and streams should be boiled by campers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dusty
not clean
we were all muddy after playing outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to blur
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty
forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muddy
Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Skipping this step can create a muddy paste when moisture is added, making the mess harder to clean up.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
In more recent drops, FIFA has also introduced Category 1 front-row seating at some games, further muddying the waters.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Adjective
From playground kickabouts with coats as goalposts to Sunday morning scrimmages on muddy park pitches to the velvety green turf of futuristic stadiums, soccer is close to a religion.
—Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Skipping this step can create a muddy paste when moisture is added, making the mess harder to clean up.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, the secretary of state’s office and the State Election Board have further muddied the waters by issuing conflicting guidance for county election officials about how votes should be cast and counted.
—Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
In more recent drops, FIFA has also introduced Category 1 front-row seating at some games, further muddying the waters.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddy
Adjective
-
Hence, the dehydrated, mucky phlegm in people with CF.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
-
When Mom spoke, her voice came out thick and mucky.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike regions such as southeast Florida or southern California, New York’s nearshore waters are frequently turbid and moderately rough, limiting the visibility of sharks from the air.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Why does Mitch find the view beautiful, though the water is turbid and he is enveloped in the scent of incense and candles?—
Katie Kitamura,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Looking for a heritage bolt of fabric without having to comb through the dusty shelves of an antiques store?—
Alyssa Longobucco,
Architectural Digest,
19 June 2026
-
On the dusty backroads of Radiator Springs, where Lightning McQueen and his pals live, a shower of meteors threatened to bring destruction upon the quarter-size cars in a scene that disaster movie king Roland Emmerich would endorse.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
-
Why The Market Misprices Good Companies Investors often confuse business quality with investment quality.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
As these events unfold, Early’s earnestness blurs comedy and drama, to surprisingly heartfelt effect.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
-
To soften the look of this nostalgic floral, try blurring its edges to create an airbrushed effect.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The green, slimy algae were first detected in the delta in 1999.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Biofilm is a microscopic, slimy layer of bacteria that sits on the surfaces and resists disinfectants over time.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Algae bloomed late last week just days after the completion of the renovation, turning the pool from deep blue to green and murky.—
Jonathan Karl,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
The details remain murky, but reports indicated that American and Iranian leaders on Monday signed an agreement intended to end hostilities between the countries.—
Las Vegas Review-Journal,
Twin Cities,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddy. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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