1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
spattered with muck from the pigpen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in junk
that which is of low quality or worth
what's this muck that you've been watching on TV, anyway?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
there's some solid substance in this book, but the reader has to trudge through a lot of muck to get to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to stain
to make dirty
you can't work in the garden and not expect to muck your clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of muck
Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Even though this team isn't good at shooting threes, their defense mucks everything up enough to win games.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
The calming, repetitive nature of grooming, the physical and distracting qualities of mucking stalls and the connection of walking alongside a horse while exercising them - each stride a step towards trust.
—Kelly Bowman, CNN, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muck
Noun
That would reduce risks of toxic metals and chemicals in the muck from getting back into the water.
—Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Even though this team isn't good at shooting threes, their defense mucks everything up enough to win games.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
Randle's bully ball and inattentive defense are mucking everything up.
—Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
The calming, repetitive nature of grooming, the physical and distracting qualities of mucking stalls and the connection of walking alongside a horse while exercising them - each stride a step towards trust.
—Kelly Bowman, CNN, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muck
Noun
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Every day, as my colleague Thomas Curwen described it a few years ago, the big rigs take a shortcut through a small Wilmington neighborhood, sending out dirt and noise and diesel fumes.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
-
Unexpected grave goods The dirt block went through CT scans and X-rays at the University of Bradford before being sent to the York Archaeological Trust for a deeper analysis in November.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
The tales of professional golfers bemoaning mud balls and preferred lies will die by next week.—
Jordan Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2025
-
An 8-foot alligator was discovered perfectly disguised in the mud along a southwest Florida hiking trail, and photos of the startling sight have rattled social media.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
An ordinary fork and a quick hand can beat, stir, and whisk while saving room in your kitchen junk drawer.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
-
The airwaves are full of young stars spinning narratives with a Jarvis-style eye for junk detail, from Chappell to Billie to Olivia.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Duluth, Minnesota, has installed effective and unobtrusive signs at each beach entrance next to a garbage receptacle.—
John Michael Pierobon,
Sun Sentinel,
25 May 2025
-
Allegiance The Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, regroups on the garbage planet Anoat, while Finn and Poe go on a secret mission to retrieve a weapons cache to increase their dwindling arsenal.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
Then, once completed, pasting begins, where mud from the henna plant is placed atop the area to stain.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
22 May 2025
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Plus, the matte, two-tone color scheme helps resist staining, maintaining the spoons' stylish appeal over time.—
Toby Rose,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Herbicides can harm the important beneficial microorganisms that make your soil a healthy environment for plants’ roots.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
-
Source: University of Manchester Graphic: Renée Rigdon, CNN Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils all over the world.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
Scallions, chili oil, or even a slice of cheese (yes, cheese) elevate the dish from ordinary to indulgent.—
The Learning Network,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
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The same dangers apply to cotija and queso fresco cheese, as they are made from raw milk, and one producer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, was shut down in October after its cheeses were linked to a years-long listeria outbreak that killed two people and made dozens of others sick.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
Noun
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This nonsense all tracks back to a May 9 visit Baraka, McIver and other members of Congress made to a New Jersey immigration detention center.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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Stellar Blade was one of my favorite games of last year, a stellar (ha) action adventure title that did not deserve the culture war nonsense that surrounded it.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muck. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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