murk

IPA/mɜːk/
KK[mˈɚk]IPA/mɜːrk/

murk — noun

1. thick darkness or cloudiness in air or water, caused by fog, smoke, or stirred-u

1.名詞B2
釋義

thick darkness or cloudiness in air or water, caused by fog, smoke, or stirred-up dirt, that makes it very hard to see what is around you

例句

Sora could barely see the boat ahead through the thick murk.

collocation: through the murk

The fog settled over the harbour like a blanket of grey murk.

同義詞
  • gloom

    darker in tone; often suggests a sad or depressing atmosphere as well as low light

  • haze

    thin mist or smoke that softens outlines rather than blocking vision completely

  • dimness

    low light rather than thick obscuring cloud; less intense than murk

反義詞
  • clarity

    complete transparency with nothing blocking the view

  • brightness

    strong, clear light with no obscurity

文法句型

in/through/into + the murk

用法筆記

Frequently appears with prepositions 'in', 'through', or 'into' to describe a physical environment. Subject is usually fog, smoke, or a body of water. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes literal, physical darkness.

常見錯誤

❌I couldn't see because of the murk weather.
✅I couldn't see because of the murk.
💡'murk' is a noun. Use 'murky' as the adjective form to describe weather or water.

2. a state of confusion and secrecy in which dishonesty, corruption, or illegal act

2.名詞B2
釋義

a state of confusion and secrecy in which dishonesty, corruption, or illegal activity is suspected but nothing is clear or proven

例句

The deal was hidden in a murk of offshore accounts and false receipts.

pattern: in a murk of + [negative things]

Sofie could not tell who was lying; the whole case sat in legal murk.

collocation: legal murk

同義詞
  • opacity

    more formal; emphasises the impossibility of seeing through to the truth

  • obscurity

    suggests something deliberately hidden or unknown, without necessarily implying illegality

  • fog

    figurative use is more informal; 'a fog of secrecy' is a common variation

反義詞
  • transparency

    full openness where nothing is hidden

  • clarity

    a situation where all facts are clearly visible and understood

文法句型

a murk of + [negative noun]

in/into the murk of + [noun]

用法筆記

This sense is always figurative — it describes hidden wrongdoing or secrecy, never physical darkness. Common in journalism, political writing, and legal reporting. Frequently used in the pattern 'a murk of [corruption/secrecy/suspicion]'.

常見錯誤

❌The company acted in murk.
✅The company operated in a murk of secrecy.
💡the figurative sense almost always needs 'a murk of + [something negative]' to sound natural; it is rarely used bare.