turbid

American  

[tur-bid] / ˈtɜr bɪd /

adjective

1. not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured.

   the turbid waters near the waterfall.

   Synonyms:

   muddy, cloudy, murky

2. thick or dense, as smoke or clouds.

3. confused; muddled; disturbed.

   The real reason for the impenetrability of certain writing is often the turbid minds of the writers.

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turbid British  

/ ˈtɜːbɪd /

adjective

1. muddy or opaque, as a liquid clouded with a suspension of particles

2. dense, thick, or cloudy

   turbid fog

3. in turmoil or confusion

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Other Word Forms

• turbidity noun
• turbidly adverb
• turbidness noun
• unturbid adjective
• unturbidly adverb

Etymology

Origin of turbid

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin turbidus “disturbed,” equivalent to turb(āre) “to disturb” (derivative of turba “turmoil”) + -idus adjective suffix ( -id ⁴ )

Example Sentences

"After all, turbid water means more sand and silt particles in the water, which can allow the coast to grow," the researcher explains.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2024

Standing on a bluff overlooking Iron Gate Dam, Hillman watched the turbid, chocolate-colored water flowing from a tunnel and passing downriver.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2024

Ukrainian troops evacuated its staff before a 4-meter wave of turbid, polluted water flooded the station and its breeding ponds.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 3, 2024

Within them, turbid pockets of gas were forced ever inward, kindling the fires that would end the cosmic dark ages.

From National Geographic • Sep. 14, 2023

That’s why guidelines on how to avoid legalese and other turbid professional styles call for using first- and second-person pronouns, inverting passives into actives, and letting verbs be verbs rather than zombie nouns.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker