Murky
/ˈmɜːrki/
Definitions
2 meaningsDark and dirty, typically of water or another liquid; not clear.
/ˈmɜːrki/
Dark and dirty, typically of water
The lake's water was murky after the storm.
💡 Simply: Imagine a puddle after a rainstorm. It's not clear; you can't see the bottom. That's murky! It's like looking into a swamp: you wouldn't want to swim there.
👶 For kids: When something is murky, it means it's not clear, like dirty water you can't see through.
More Examples
He peered into the murky depths of the cave.
The political situation remained murky, with no clear solutions in sight.
How It's Used
"The river was murky after the heavy rainfall."
"The murky depths of the swamp hid many secrets."
Not clearly expressed or understood; vague or obscure.
/ˈmɜːrki/
Not clear; obscure or confused
The details surrounding the company's finances remained murky.
💡 Simply: Imagine a mystery that's hard to figure out because the clues are confusing. That mystery is 'murky'. It's like trying to understand a complicated rule or a confusing explanation.
👶 For kids: When something is murky, it means it is not easy to understand or see.
More Examples
The reasons for her decision were somewhat murky.
The situation became even more murky as the investigation continued.
How It's Used
"The details of the transaction were murky."
"The evidence was murky, making a conviction difficult."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle English *murk, mirke* ('darkness, gloom'), related to Old Norse *myrkr* ('dark').
Used since the 14th century to describe darkness or obscurity.
Memory tip
Think of a dirty, cloudy puddle - murky!
Word Origin
"dark"