murkiness

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

murk•y /ˈmɜrki/   adj., -i•er, i•est. 

1. dark, gloomy, and cheerless:
   a murky, dark cave.
2. thick and heavy, as with mist:
   murky streets.
3. muddy; hard to see through:
   Fish were dying in the murky ponds.
4. vague;
   unclear:
   a murky statement.

murk•i•ly /ˈmɜrkəli/  adv. 
murk•i•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

murk•y  (mûr′kē), adj., murk•i•er, murk•i•est. 

1. dark, gloomy, and cheerless.
2. obscure or thick with mist, haze, etc., as the air.
3. vague;
   unclear;
   confused:
   a murky statement.

Also, mirky. 

• Middle English mirky. See murk, -y¹ 1300–50

murk′i•ly, adv. 
murk′i•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See dark. 
• 2. cloudy, dusky, lowering, misty, hazy.

Antonyms

• 1, 2. bright, clear.