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
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 muddy
Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The walk to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is hosting men’s and women’s competitions at the 2026 Olympic Games, is a muddy one.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Economists warned that the overall economic picture remains muddied, including by statistical quirks and the aftereffects of the government shutdown this past fall, which disrupted the data that feeds into CPI.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Adjective
Once a week, according to residents, a black Dodge truck with tinted windows pulled up to a tent on the edge of the community, a dense maze of tiny shacks connected by muddy paths, slick from the persistent summer rain.
—Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The walk to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is hosting men’s and women’s competitions at the 2026 Olympic Games, is a muddy one.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Fast-forward to Jim Cramer's Sunday column — about 1½ weeks later and a lot of investor selling later — the Microsoft situation remains muddied.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Economists warned that the overall economic picture remains muddied, including by statistical quirks and the aftereffects of the government shutdown this past fall, which disrupted the data that feeds into CPI.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muddy
Adjective
-
But The Abandons’s read on womanhood is like that dismembered mayor — bloody, mucky, and missing essential pieces.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
-
There are also mucky paw prints across the white wall.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
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
-
Timeless wood pieces, plush armchairs and headboards, and earthy yet optimistic color palettes (think ivory, spring green, tawny brown, and bronze) are both serene and cozy, without feeling dusty or overly trendy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Further investigation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) whittled these galaxies down to 70 faint dusty galaxy candidates on the very edge of the cosmos, the majority of which had never been seen before.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Restaurants that have a smaller 3% charge to cover healthcare might leave customers confused on how to proceed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Netflix representatives have been warning investors not to confuse the expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period with regulatory clearance, citing examples where DOJ investigations have continued, per a note from Guggenheim Securities this week.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Footage released by the LVMPD shows the woman, whose face was blurred in the video, approaching the ticket counter with her dog before walking away and leaving the dog's leash tied to the counter.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The illuminating skin tint instantly blurs and brightens my complexion and leaves behind a soft-focus glow—almost as if my skin were an IRL filter.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The main difference came with the texture, which was slightly more slimy and sticky than the average russet potato.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That's unless the shells looks slimy or chalky, which is a sign your eggs have gone bad and should be thrown out.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Legal experts say the offense is complicated and murky to prosecute.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But residency requirements are murky.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddy. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
