Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

misty

American  
[mis-tee] / ˈmɪs ti /

adjective

mistier, mistiest
  1. abounding in or clouded by mist.

  2. of the nature of or consisting of mist.

  3. appearing as if seen through mist; indistinct or blurred in form or outline.

  4. obscure; vague.


misty British  
/ ˈmɪstɪ /

adjective

  1. consisting of or resembling mist

  2. obscured by or as if by mist

  3. indistinct; blurred

    the misty past

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of misty

before 900; Middle English; Old English mistig. See mist, -y 1

Explanation

When it's misty out, there's a heavy fog. The air is thick with moisture, and there's just barely a light rain. When the air is foggy or hazy, you've got a misty situation. It isn't easy to see through misty weather, which happens most often in the morning because of moisture in the air. Your eyes can get misty too, when you're about to cry because you're sad or just have allergies. In fact, people who are embarrassed about crying will often joke, "It's getting misty in here."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing misty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Women’s workplace gains are likely playing an equal role, along with personal preferences, in driving men to spend more time on housework, said Misty Heggeness, an economist at the University of Kansas.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Ballet star Misty Copeland's monochrome outfit featured a playful tutu.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

Eight months ago, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley began proposing new ideas for the 2026 Academy Awards stage.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

But the season’s most eagerly attended performance was a gala honoring principal dancer Misty Copeland with a farewell showcase.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

And away in the North-west there seemed to be another darkness brooding about the feet of the Misty Mountains, a shadow that crept down slowly from the Wizard’s Vale.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "misty" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com