murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē 

murkier; murkiest

1

: characterized by a heavy dimness or obscurity caused by or like that caused by overhanging fog or smoke

the murky bottom of the lake

2

: characterized by thickness and heaviness of air : foggy, misty

rain poured down from murky skies

—Newsweek

3

: darkly vague or obscure

murky official rhetoric

He offered a murky explanation.

murkily

ˈmər-kə-lē 

adverb

murkiness

ˈmər-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• black
• caliginous
• dark
• darkened
• darkish
• darkling
• darksome
• dim
• dimmed
• dusk
• dusky
• gloomy
• lightless
• obscure
• obscured
• pitch-black
• pitch-dark
• pitchy
• rayless
• somber
• sombre
• stygian
• tenebrific
• tenebrous
• unlit

Examples of murky in a Sentence

She peered into one of the church's murky chapels.

a politician with a murky past

Recent Examples on the Web

The situation here becomes more murky because Fusion GPS hired Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, to investigate Trump’s ties with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025

Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, the stock had declined more than 50% over the past 12 months as the company’s future became increasingly murky. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025

This is where things get really interesting—and ethically murky. —Tim Bates, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

More politics news: Speaker Mike Johnson is eyeing a House vote today on a six-month funding extension, but the path to avoiding a government shutdown by Friday night is still murky. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing murky

• murky waters

Rhymes for murky

• jerky
• perky
• quirky
• turki

Kids Definition

murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē 

murkier; murkiest

1

: very dark or gloomy

2

: foggy sense 1, misty

3

: difficult to understand

a murky reply designed to confuse

murkiness noun