murky

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "murky" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is dark, cloudy, and difficult to see through, or to describe something that is unclear, vague, or ambiguous. For example: "The murky lake water was filled with unknown dangers" or "The candidate's motives for running for office remain murky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On a street nearby, Janet Ebi shelled periwinkles picked from the murky swamps close to the compound where Jonathan grew up.

The Guardian

Neither are murky waters or increased nutrient levels when water runs off from farms.

The Guardian

Fair enough, after this murky business, that Piketty might want to distance himself from the everyday rough and tumble of real politics.

The Guardian - Books

"It's a murky world, and something that photographers never really challenge – they are all worried about upsetting the apple cart".

The Guardian

Some online sources attribute this to the 1949 John Wayne film She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (what Wayne actually said in that film was "Never apologise, mister – it's a sign of weakness"), but its antecedents are murky.

The Guardian - Books

The mushrooming of streaming and filesharing anime online, sometimes with fans providing the subtitles – "fansubbing" as it is known – is also resulting in TV channels being bypassed, though the legal status of doing this is murky.

The Guardian

"I've no interest in exploring my murky depths.

The Guardian

It's an obvious enough point, but it cannot be restated enough: "No one with any knowledge of the murky manoeuvres that carved what is now Iraq out of the defeated Ottoman Empire after the first world war," he writes, "could possibly have thought it a good idea to try, by force of arms, to turn that artificial, riven state into a beacon of democracy for the Middle East".

The Guardian - Opinion

But corporal punishment in the home is legal in all 50 states, with murky caveats.

The Guardian - Sport

Such a character, both repellent and compelling, would help to illuminate some of the murky corners of this issue, which is one of fiction's great services to us all.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The positive thing to have come out of this is that everyone is banding together," said Klaus Horst, a 56-year-old civil servant, as he watched from Dresden's Brühlsche terrace, where jugglers and street musicians carried on delivering their entertain as usual to the crowds of tourists enjoying ice cream and beer in the summer sunshine while down below the murky waters swirled past.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation, use "murky" to convey a sense of uncertainty or moral ambiguity, not just physical darkness.

Common error

Avoid using "murky" when simply describing a dark environment. "Murky" implies a lack of clarity or something hidden, not just a lack of light.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "murky" primarily functions to describe something lacking clarity or transparency, either literally (like water) or figuratively (like a situation or motive). Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "murky" is frequently used to describe something that lacks clarity, be it a physical substance like water or an abstract concept like intentions. As Ludwig AI points out, the word's meaning extends beyond simple darkness, suggesting a hidden or unclear quality. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, "murky" should be used judiciously, avoiding simple descriptions of darkness. Related terms include "obscure", "turbid", and "shady", each carrying slightly different nuances. With a high frequency in news and business contexts, "murky" proves to be a versatile and valuable term in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obscure

Focuses on the lack of clarity or distinctness.

turbid

Specifically refers to a liquid that is cloudy or opaque.

opaque

Emphasizes the inability to see through or understand something.

cloudy

Highlights the lack of transparency or clearness.

dark

Stresses the absence of light or understanding.

muddy

Implies a situation or explanation is unclear and confused.

shadowy

Suggests something is hidden or not fully revealed.

indistinct

Highlights a lack of clear definition or form.

shady

Implies dishonesty or questionable ethics.

dubious

Suggests uncertainty or doubtfulness about something.

FAQs

How to use "murky" in a sentence?

You can use "murky" to describe water, situations, or even intentions that are unclear or difficult to understand. For example, "The water was "turbid" and "murky"", or "The details of the deal remained "obscure" and "murky"".

What can I say instead of "murky"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "obscure", "turbid", "cloudy", or "shady".

Which is correct, "murky details" or "vague details"?

"Murky details" implies that the details are not only unclear but also potentially suspicious or hidden. "Vague details" simply means the details lack clarity. Both are grammatically correct, but their connotations differ.

What's the difference between "murky" and "dark"?

"Dark" refers to the absence of light, while "murky" suggests something is unclear or difficult to see through, whether physically or metaphorically. A situation can be "dark" without being "murky", and vice versa.