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murky

murky

16 4.9
A place that is dark and hard to see because of low light or fog
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɜrki/
translation icon : oscuro
  • The water was murky and difficult to see through because of the dirt on the bottom.

I I was back out in the cold, murky Pacific Ocean.

Examples

  • By contrast, the relationship of states and tribes is both murky and fraught.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Politics inside Myanmar is always murky, but several factors probably prompted this detente.

    Academic text (2002)
  • I I was back out in the cold, murky Pacific Ocean.

  • The chamber began to grow murky with the coming of dusk.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The girl leads Epps down into the murky darkness where she finds a way out.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Data on foreign direct investment in Iran are extremely murky, unreliable, and varied.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Ahead of me, there's a long murky hall, and the world swings right again.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The windows are murky.

  • Somewhere I got the idea that tenacity is rewarded, but it feels like a murky, dreamlike memory.

    Academic text (2009)
  • As Suskind reached the second floor, Randy came out into the murky light of the uppermost landing.

    Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

dark
vsmurky
1.0

With little or no light and not bright

adds the sense of obscuring substances and difficulty seeing through space
hazy
vsmurky
49 3.9

Not clear because of mist or when you cannot remember it well

is broader, including thicker obscuring substances and deeper gloom
misty
vsmurky
35 1.4

Covered with thin cloud near the ground or not clear in memory

focuses more on dim light or various obscuring elements, not only mist
gloomy
vsmurky
16 2.3

Dark and not well lit so a place feels sad

is more about physical obscuring by fog smoke or shadows
foggy
vsmurky
15 1.0

Air with small drops of water that make it hard to see

covers cases with thick vapor and also darkness from smoke shadows or dim light
muddy
vsmurky
11 2.7

A dull, unclear color that looks mixed and lifeless

is broader, stressing actual darkness or obscuring substances beyond color
cloudy
vsmurky
9 2.3

Liquid that is not clear and has small particles

focuses on obscured air or dim lighting rather than liquid cloudiness
shadowy
vsmurky
5 5.1

Hard to see or understand because it is not clear

is more about physical dimness and obscuring substances rather than vagueness
turbid
vsmurky
1 8.1

A liquid that is cloudy because small pieces float in it

uses similar imagery but usually refers to air, smoke, or dim light
clouded
vsmurky
1 4.8

A face, mind, or explanation that is not clear because of worry

is about physical darkness or fog rather than mental confusion
darkish
vsmurky
1 2.0

A little less light in color than usual

implies deeper dimness and often actual visual obstruction
vaporous
vsmurky
  • US
1 7.2

Full of mist that makes things look unclear

covers that light vapor quality and heavier dimness from other causes
fogged
vsmurky
1 3.9

Hard to see through because water covers the glass

applies more widely to air or space, not only to surfaces like glass
darksome
vsmurky
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Dark and gloomy in a way that makes you feel uncertain or afraid

leans more toward actual poor visibility due to fog or dimness
mirky
vsmurky
  • Archaic
8.6

Not clear and dark, like water or fog

is the same idea but emphasizes obscuring substances and dim light
vapory
vsmurky
8.2

Misty because tiny drops of water fill the air

includes vaporous looks but also darker, heavier obscuring conditions
brumous
vsmurky
  • Archaic
9.9

Having fog or mist that makes it hard to see

expresses the same visual effect but in plain, nonliterary terms
muddied
vsmurky
5.0

A color made less bright because it has dirt or other colors mixed in

is about overall poor visibility and gloom, not only faded color
darkened
vsmurky
3.4

A place with less light than usual

adds the idea of fog, smoke, or shadows that also obscure vision
umbrous
vsmurky
  • Archaic
9.9

A place that is dark because trees or buildings make shade

includes shadow effects but also darkness from fog smoke or dim light
dark and dank
vsmurky
5.6

A place with little light that is damp and unpleasant

focuses on darkness and visual obstruction without emphasizing dampness

Antonyms

866 1.0

Free from things that block sight or movement

459 1.0

Full of strong light that makes a place easy to see

Compounds

5 3.4

Water that is dark and cloudy so you cannot see through it

How Dark

pitch-black
8 3.4
dark
1.0
murky
16 4.9
dim
62 1.0
bright
459 1.0

Surface Forms

murky positive

Morphology

murky = murk (transparent) = murk + y

The adjective is directly formed from the noun 'murk' with the productive suffix '-y', so the meaning 'dark or dim' follows straightforwardly.

Etymology

Murky comes from the old word murk, which means 'dark' or 'gloomy', like a foggy night or a shadowy street. So murky describes places with little light or a scene that is hard to see or understand.