murky tones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "murky tones" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe unclear, indistinct, or ambiguous sounds, colors, or emotions in various contexts, such as art, music, or literature. Example: "The painting was filled with murky tones that evoked a sense of mystery and unease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But this show zeroes in on the five-year transitional phase from the brown, murky tones of his Munich training to his arrival at a lighter style based on French Impressionism.

The New York Times - Arts

But this show zeroes in on the five-year period when, in a trasitional phase between the brown, murky tones of his Munich training and his arrival at a lighter style based on french Impressionism, he painted genteel views of park landscapes in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The New York Times - Arts

But this show zeroes in on the five-year period when, in a transitional phase between the brown, murky tones of his Munich training and his arrival at a lighter style based on French Impressionism, he painted genteel views of park landscapes in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The New York Times - Arts

Expanding of the loose, jam-oriented style of Worldwide Underground, it features groove-based instrumentation, murky tones, hip hop musical phrasing, eccentric interludes, and various beats, digital glitches, and samples.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Based on stories by Elmore Leonard, "Justified" captures his darkly funny, morally murky tone and spikes the traditional crime procedural with hooch and Oxycontin, tracking its hero's attempts to thwart colorful drug dealers and gunrunners and negotiate his own fractured relationships.

The New York Times - Arts

The Man in the High Castle features a few of the typical pilot wobbles – an overreliance on exposition, a slight willingness to prioritise the cramming in of plot details over character development – but its grand vision and murky, stylised tone more than make up for it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The reverence is inert, the violence noxious, the mythology murky, the tone grandiose, the texture glutinous".

Wikipedia

The Tietê River is the most polluted river in Brazil, well-known throughout the country for its murky grey tone and the scattered, built-up trash that built up along the portion that passes through the city.

Vice

"The Bucket Rider," with its delicate pedal tones, murky sonorities and a chorale-like pattern of pungent chords, was a mesmerizing prelude to "Be Just!," a breathless work, like some wild toccata that began and ended with the terrifying thump of rattling chains dropped upon a bass drum.

The New York Times - Arts

Shedding the clean lines of The American, Corbijn's third feature echoes the murkier smoke-stained tones of Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, albeit with a photographer's eye for striking, angular architectural detail.

The Guardian - Film

The first lines of the first story, "A Murky Fate," establish the tone and themes of the book: "This is what happened.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing art or music, use "murky tones" to evoke a sense of mystery or unease. The phrase works well to convey a lack of clarity or a somber mood.

Common error

While "murky tones" can be effective, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "dim hues" or "cloudy shades" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "murky tones" typically functions as a descriptive element, often modifying a noun related to art, music, or atmosphere. It's used to impart a sense of darkness, lack of clarity, or ambiguity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "murky tones" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as Ludwig AI indicates, employed to describe unclear, indistinct, or ambiguous qualities, most commonly in visual or auditory contexts. While its frequency is rare, its usage in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian lends it authority. When writing, remember that varying your descriptive language and considering the emotional atmosphere is recommended. Furthermore, you can explore alternatives such as "dull shades" or "clouded hues" to enrich your vocabulary and create a variety of descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dim colors

Replaces "murky" with "dim", emphasizing the lack of brightness in colors.

darkened shades

Emphasizes a reduction in brightness or an increase in darkness in the context of colors or shades.

dull shades

Replaces "tones" with "shades", focusing on color but maintaining the lack of brightness or clarity.

subdued colours

Focuses on reducing the intensity and vividness of colours, similar to making them "murky".

clouded hues

Substitutes "murky" with "clouded" and "tones" with "hues", emphasizing a lack of clarity and vibrancy in color.

somber tints

Replaces "murky" with "somber", highlighting a melancholic or subdued quality in color.

obscure sounds

Shifts the focus from visual to auditory, describing unclear or muffled sounds.

vague intonations

Shifts to describe unclear or poorly defined vocal tones or intonations.

muffled sounds

Focuses on auditory experience, suggesting sounds that are indistinct and muted.

indistinct sounds

Focuses on a lack of clarity and definition in auditory tones.

FAQs

How can I use "murky tones" in a sentence?

You can use "murky tones" to describe art, music, or even emotional atmospheres. For example, "The painting was filled with "murky tones" that evoked a sense of mystery and unease."

What's a good alternative to "murky tones" when describing color?

Alternatives include "dull shades", "clouded hues", or "somber tints", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "murky tones" be used to describe something other than color or sound?

While less common, "murky tones" can metaphorically describe unclear or ambiguous situations or emotions. For instance, "The details of the agreement were shrouded in "murky details"."

Is it appropriate to use "murky tones" in formal writing?

Yes, "murky tones" is appropriate in formal writing when used to accurately and effectively describe unclear or somber qualities. However, consider your audience and the overall "tone of the writing".