turbid
Americanadjective
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not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured.
the turbid waters near the waterfall.
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thick or dense, as smoke or clouds.
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The real reason for the impenetrability of certain writing is often the turbid minds of the writers.
adjective
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muddy or opaque, as a liquid clouded with a suspension of particles
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dense, thick, or cloudy
turbid fog
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in turmoil or confusion
Other Word Forms
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 ( see -id 4)
Explanation
If a liquid is dark and murky and you can't see through it, it's turbid. It’s usually used as a criticism — a turbid river is generally a polluted one, but then again a good pint of real ale should be turbid. Go figure. Turbid comes from the Latin word turbidus, which means "muddy, full of confusion." Although it’s usually used to describe liquid, like that turbid creek your rain boot disappeared in, it can also be used to describe writing that’s unclear. If your teacher says your essay for English is turbid, it’s time to go back to work! Outlines and thesis statements can help clear up turbid prose.
Vocabulary lists containing turbid
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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A Separate Peace
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
In September 2025, a 29-year old man was hiking alone on the remote Turbid Lake Trail when he apparently surprised a bear.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
The 29-year old man had been hiking alone on the remote Turbid Lake Trail when he apparently surprised the bear, according to park officials.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025
But ah! not his the eventual fate Which doth the journeying wave await— Doomed to resign its limpid state And quickly grow Turbid as passion, dark as hate, And wide as woe.
From The Poems of William Watson by Watson, William
"Turbid" rather suits the muddy kind of inspiration which London porter confers.
From The Best Letters of Charles Lamb by Lamb, Charles
Turbid, tur′bid, adj. disordered: having the sediment disturbed: muddy: thick.—adv.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
