sludge

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'sludge' is considered correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a thick, viscous substance, such as a substance that accumulates in a pipeline, tank, or sewer system. For example, you could use the sentence, "The pipes were clogged with thick sludge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the reef, it is not so much the risk of "death by a thousand cuts" but more "death by millions of cubic metres of sludge and billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide".

The Guardian

In my mind, Sheffield was the mouldy brown sludge of Devvy Green, and the decrepit markets where stocky women stood, wearing raincoats, chain-smoking fistfuls of cigarettes.

The Guardian - Music

Later that night she shows up at Needy's house covered in gallons of blood and vomiting horrible oil black sludge in copious amounts.

The Guardian - Film

On the corner where road meets pavement is a shared open drain with grey sludge, likely the source of the odour in the air.

The Guardian

Labor says expert advice it received when in government raised major concerns over whether dredged sludge should be dumped near the Great Barrier Reef, and accuses the Coalition of "taking an axe" to Australia's environment since taking office.

The Guardian

On the other hand it is possible that water may strengthen the links between the radioisotopes and the solid matter in the sludge, making it safe to leave the jars where they are.

The Economist

That sludge was shipped to Arrowhead, a landfill site outside Uniontown.

The Economist

Warmer weather over the last few days is already drying out the top layer of the sludge, creating dust.

The Economist

Opponents of the Tokushima dam argue that dams of similar design elsewhere have destroyed river habitats, blocking the flow of water and leading to an accumulation of sludge on the river bed.

The Economist

SWILLING around murky ponds in the oldest part of Sellafield, a nuclear research and reprocessing centre in Cumbria, is a soupy, radioactive sludge.

The Economist

But while alive, they excrete large amounts of toxic sludge.On Thai shrimp farms, the traditional way of dealing with this sludge is to toss it in the nearest river.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about environmental issues or industrial processes, use "sludge" to accurately describe the semi-solid waste or byproduct, ensuring clarity and technical accuracy in your description.

Common error

Be specific about the type of "sludge" you are referring to. Instead of generically mentioning "sludge", specify its composition (e.g., "sewage sludge", "industrial sludge") for better context and understanding.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sludge" is as a noun, referring to a thick, soft, wet, and often unpleasant or undesirable substance. Ludwig AI confirms its use as a generic term for solids separated from suspension in a liquid, or a residual semi-solid material.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sludge" functions primarily as a noun to describe a thick, often unpleasant, substance commonly found in industrial or environmental contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the term's validity and broad applicability. Its usage spans from formal scientific reports to more general descriptions in news media. To ensure clarity, it's often best to specify the type of "sludge" being referenced, such as "sewage sludge" or "industrial sludge". Common synonyms include "muck", "ooze", and "sediment", each with slightly different connotations. With high occurrence in reputable sources like The Economist and The Guardian, using "sludge" appropriately can effectively convey the intended meaning in various professional and general communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sediment

Refers to solid particulate matter that has settled at the bottom of a liquid, similar to "sludge" but often implies a more natural process of settling.

muck

"Muck" is a more informal term for a similar substance and is often used to describe mud or filth.

ooze

"Ooze" refers to a substance that flows slowly and is often thick and unpleasant, sharing the viscous quality of "sludge".

mire

"Mire" is a situation or state of difficulty, predicament, or trouble that is nearly impossible to be freed from.

slush

"Slush" specifically refers to partially melted snow or ice, a more specific type of "sludge" formed from frozen water.

effluent

"Effluent" describes liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

residue

"Residue" refers to what remains after a process or event, similar to "sludge" as a byproduct.

waste

"Waste" is a general term for unwanted or unusable materials and can include "sludge" as a form of waste.

grime

"Grime" refers to dirt or filth that accumulates on a surface, comparable to "sludge" accumulating in a system.

dregs

"Dregs" are the remnants or sediment at the bottom of a container, similar to "sludge" accumulating as a byproduct.

FAQs

How can I use "sludge" in a sentence?

You can use "sludge" to describe a thick, often unpleasant, mixture of water and solid matter. For example, "The pipes were clogged with thick "thick sludge"".

What are some synonyms for "sludge"?

Some synonyms for "sludge" include "muck", "ooze", "sediment", and "waste" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "sludge" and "sediment"?

"Sludge" typically refers to a semi-solid waste material, often from industrial or sewage processes. "Sediment", on the other hand, is generally solid matter that settles at the bottom of a liquid and it is the results of a naturally settling process.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "sludge"?

The term "sludge" is appropriate in environmental reports, scientific articles, or technical documents when referring to semi-solid waste, particularly from industrial, water treatment, or wastewater treatment processes. You can also use it more informally.