murky

American  

[mur-kee] / ˈmɜr ki /

Sometimes mirky

adjective

murkier, murkiest

1. dark, gloomy, and cheerless.

   Antonyms:

   cheery, bright

2. obscure or thick with mist, haze, etc., as the air.

   Synonyms:

   opaque, obscure, indefinite, hazy, confusing, hazy, misty, lowering, cloudy

   Antonyms:

   clear

3. (of liquid) not clear; cloudy with or as if with sediment.

   Antonyms:

   transparent, pellucid, limpid, clear

4. not clearly expressed; vague; unclear; confused.

   a murky statement.

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murky British  

/ ˈmɜːkɪ /

adjective

1. gloomy or dark

2. cloudy or impenetrable as with smoke or fog

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Related Words

See dark.

Other Word Forms

• murkily adverb
• murkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of murky

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mirky; murk, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Addis’ bill expands the number of education technology companies that fall under the state’s student privacy laws, but the language is murky when it comes to apps or online services used outside of class.

From Los Angeles Times

In terms of next steps in the cases where the motions to strike have been resolved, the timeline for the potential release of documents remains murky.

From Salon

The mothers spend the days foraging for fruit, nuts, and water lily seeds, while children splash in the river's murky waters.

From Barron's

The entire future beyond All-Star weekend is murky for the Clippers, between the looming investigation and uncertainty across the roster.

From Los Angeles Times

“While the setup from here is clearly murky in the short term, we believe the pain that will be inflicted will in turn set the company up for longer-term success.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• cloudy
• dark
• dim
• dirty
• dismal
• dreary
• foggy
• fuzzy
• misty
• muddy
• nebulous
• stormy