mud

noun

ˈməd How to pronounce mud (audio)
Definition of mudnext
as in sludge
soft wet earth we cannot play softball today because the field turned to mud after last night's heavy rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mud Hikers contend with steep climbs, boulder fields, exposed roots, mud, stream crossings and rocks upon rocks upon rocks. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Jonathan Hyde as that man is very good here, as is Claire Foy with a choice role as the rare female journalist of the time who could actually get into the mud and play with the boys. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 For the most part, road-running sneakers have outsoles marked by smooth, flat rubber or shallow grooves, while their trail-running counterparts flaunt lugs that can most effectively grip dirt, mud, and rocks. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 What survivors have said At least 279 hydropower workers have been rescued or managed to trudge their way out of the mud and silt riddled tunnels. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mud
  1. sludge
  2. muck
  3. gravel
  4. sand
Noun
  • Residents sat in homes with walls washed away by the floods, shoveling sludge-like mud and rubble off balconies or window frames.
    — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Venezuelan oil, by contrast, is heavy, sour sludge, which can more easily be distilled into asphalt, industrial oils, diesel and jet fuel.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • The film could have only benefited from narrowing its scope away from all the government muck, an attempt to flesh out a mythology for its villains that are scarier simply as faceless, mysterious weapons of mass destruction.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The deep muck provides a cap for the shallow aquifer, helping to clean and filter freshwater that supplies drinking water for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and parts of Palm Beach County.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • The two cars Bentley brought to Laguna Seca are the only two that have been built so far, and sullying either with a trip through the gravel or, worse yet, into a tire barrier, was definitely not on the agenda.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Beige gravel serves as a backdrop to small circular stepping stones in a contrasting gray tone.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • Lunches can be taken at Da Gioia’s tiny stretch of smooth pebble beach (the rocky Amalfi’s coast version of white sand) at Marina Piccola, with space enough for 42 sun loungers at low tide and a private rentable section for 6-8 more.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • After much frustration from all parties, a line was drawn in the sand.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand

Browse Nearby Words

mucky
mud
muddied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mud. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mud

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mud

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