murky

Everyday

1. Dark and dirty so you cannot see through it, about water: murky water. tree →
2. Dark, gloomy or foggy, about air or light. tree →
3. Not clear and hard to understand: the rules are murky. tree →
4. Dishonest or secret in a suspicious way: a murky past. tree →

In the lessons

In stories «murky» sets a creepy mood: murky ponds, murky fog. In safety lessons, murky water is dangerous because you cannot see how deep it is. In news, «murky» means unclear or shady. Phrases: murky water, murky depths, a murky past, murky details.

Examples

• Don't swim in murky water; you can't see what's under it. tree →
• The pond was murky and green. tree →
• A murky fog hung over the town. tree →
• Something moved in the murky depths of the lake. tree →
• The rules about phones in school are a bit murky. tree →
• The villain had a murky past. tree →
• It was a murky, grey afternoon. tree →

Note

Comparative: murkier, murkiest (y to i). From «murk» (darkness). Safety in maths-free sense: murky water may hide rocks and sudden drops.