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
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026
During a recent visit by Fortune, Haushalter trudged through her muddy post-rain fields in high rubber boots.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 May 2026
The entrance of the American streamers into the factual drama space has muddied the waters in terms of defining a show’s success, according to Jeff Pope, who made his first streamer show last year.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muddy
Adjective
Here in the muddy middle is where confidence erodes, not because the writer lacks ability but because the process becomes complex.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026
During a recent visit by Fortune, Haushalter trudged through her muddy post-rain fields in high rubber boots.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Verb
That muddies the path to rate cuts in the short term.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 May 2026
The entrance of the American streamers into the factual drama space has muddied the waters in terms of defining a show’s success, according to Jeff Pope, who made his first streamer show last year.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 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
-
The blend of natural and painted woods with a color palette of dusty roses, umbers, and marigolds creates a warm atmosphere.—
Damian Fallon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 May 2026
-
The Hippie Tree — a giant eucalyptus perched at the top of a dusty hill — is a quick jaunt from downtown.—
Nora Heston Tarte,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Ramírez, half-awake, was confused as to why Pevey wanted to speak with him.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Schoen’s contract extension is confusing at best.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The outlier in my everflowing makeup bag is a skin care-like formula that adds a noticeable glow and blurring effect—smoothing big pores and all.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
-
Soft-matte with a priming shine-control complex, this chemical sunscreen is a pore-blurring innovation that doesn’t pill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 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
-
Instead, a simple rinse-and-scrub routine keeps the bath safe while preventing slimy growth from taking over.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 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
-
But first, the imager will scout the asteroid’s immediate neighborhood to check for any moonlets that could pose hazards to the spacecraft or offer clues to the space rock’s murky past.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
-
Details of their final days remain murky.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muddy. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
