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
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
But muddy conditions led to slop and chaos, and tired out the front-runners after a very fast opening pace, clearing the way for the closer to do his thing.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the opinions of people can muddy your own thoughts.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Adjective
On Saturday, May 2, the cheerleader shared two snaps of herself and the former New England Patriots coach, 74, holding hands while walking through a muddy area at Churchill Downs, the racetrack complex that is home to the Kentucky Derby.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
But muddy conditions led to slop and chaos, and tired out the front-runners after a very fast opening pace, clearing the way for the closer to do his thing.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
But opponents have tried to muddy the debate by reminding voters of Obama’s long history of campaigning against gerrymandering.
—Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the opinions of people can muddy your own thoughts.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Apr. 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
-
Two people were killed and two others injured when two vehicles collided head-on Friday evening along a dusty, deserted stretch of road in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
From rich red ‘Valentine’ to nearly orange ‘Sungold’ and the dusty plum of ‘Purple Bumble Bee,’ cherry tomatoes add instant color to a plate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The red, purple or sometimes gold root vegetable — not to be confused with its white cousin, the sugar beet — is low-calorie and packed with nutrients and compounds linked to benefits, ranging from brain health to athletic performance.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Companion plants with strong odors are used to confuse pests or mask the scent of crops so insect pests cannot find them.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Income stacking can build new skills Gen Z workers are blurring the boundaries between personal and professional.—
Stephanie Dhue,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
-
Even the iconic heart shape of the forest began to blur.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 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
-
Discard eggs with cracks, slimy surfaces, powdery residues, or an unpleasant smell.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Next, pat the leaves dry with a cloth or paper towel, as any excess moisture can make the spinach slimy.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Details about the underlying allegation remain murky, but the department sources familiar with the matter said the LAPD’s secretive Special Operations Division tailed officers who were under investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
He’s offered a murky definition of a ceasefire.—
Ben Finley,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddy. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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