murky

Sometimes mirk·y

[mur-kee]

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.

murky

/ ˈmɜːkɪ /

adjective

1. gloomy or dark

2. cloudy or impenetrable as with smoke or fog

Other Word Forms

• murkily adverb
• murkiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of murky¹

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

Synonym Study

See dark.

Example Sentences

No matter what happens, the fact that James didn’t reveal his intentions in his first public appearance since last spring means that this Laker season has the chance to be a murky maybe mess.

From Los Angeles Times

Moore’s ties to other radical organizations were murky.

From Los Angeles Times

Some Indian venture capitalists and research institutes see a silver lining in this murky future.

From Los Angeles Times

They feel crisper, more focused and less murky.

From Salon

Some upgrades were expected, but the cost and extent had been murky until now.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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