sludge

1
as in mud
soft wet earth after a day of heavy rain, the fairgrounds had turned into pure sludge

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2
as in corn
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental I can't bring myself to read that sludge

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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 sludge The Little Calumet, just blocks from where Steagall used to live, had shores like quicksand from all the toxic sludge and the Grand Calumet River was one of the most polluted bodies of water emptying into Lake Michigan. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Sep. 2025 Desalinating that water, however, would produce tons of brine, or super-salty sludge, as waste. Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, the onset of the rainy season has exacerbated already deplorable conditions, transforming dust into thick sludge, flooding fragile shelters, and bringing swarms of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Sep. 2025 The standard provided improved protection for modern gasoline engines, including requirements for Low-Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI), timing chain wear, and better piston deposit and sludge control. Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sludge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sludge
Noun
  • The girl, later estimated to be about 15 days old, was completely smeared in mud.
    Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • There was also a high risk of mud and rock slides, as well as flooding on urban roadways, according to the agency.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In Tennessee, candy corn proved popular as well.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Summer, nature’s wedding and harvest time for lentils, sesame, and corn.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Some stars collapsed to the sea floor, dissolved into piles of goo.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Let creativity fly without the goo and sharp tools necessary to carve a pumpkin and scoop out its insides.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sludge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sludge. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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