Turbid
Adjective
- (Of a liquid) Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter.
- Confused or obscure in meaning or effect.
Example Sentences
“The turbid waters of the swamp are home to many types of fish and amphibians.”
“Her thoughts were turbid as she tried to sort through the confusing fight she’d had with her partner the previous night.”
“The thunderstorms created turbid runoff from the lake that wouldn’t dissipate for days.”
Word Origin
Latin, mid-17th century
Why this word?
“Turbid” is based on the Latin “turba,” meaning “a crowd” or “a disturbance.” “Turbid” can describe something either literally or figuratively cloudy and obscure. Water that is turbid — such as river water during a season of thaw — is full of swirling silt and other particulates that make it cloudy and hard to see through. In the same way, a turbid announcement from a public official could be hard to make sense of.