muck 1 of 2

noun

ˈmək How to pronounce muck (audio)
Definition of mucknext
1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something spattered with muck from the pigpen

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2
as in mud
soft wet earth her shoes were covered with muck by the end of the soccer game

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3
as in junk
that which is of low quality or worth what's this muck that you've been watching on TV, anyway?

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4
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense there's some solid substance in this book, but the reader has to trudge through a lot of muck to get to it

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muck

2 of 2

verb

as in to stain
to make dirty you can't work in the garden and not expect to muck your clothes

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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 muck
Noun
The same motions repeat across the spring as men pull out algae, muck, weeds, and plastic waste clogging the streambed. — Umar Farooq, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026 Once more than 20 feet deep in some areas, Lake Jesup today is barely six feet deep as muck and other debris have accumulated on the bottom. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Verb
Jonas Valanciunas rejoined the action at backup center, mucking things up. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2026 In retirement, he’s gone back to that childhood, mucking the stalls and helping care for a menagerie that includes two horses, 10 mini goats, two mini pigs, a pair of horses and a bunch of chickens and dogs and cats. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for muck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muck
  1. dirt
  2. mud
  3. junk
  4. garbage
  5. stain
  6. soil
  7. cheese
  8. nonsense
Noun
  • Sulfates are cleansing agents that attract oil, product buildup, and dirt.
    — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Exit the parking lot in the southeast corner and head to the Lower Beacon Trail, a wide flat dirt path parallel to the road.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Before-and-after images aired by state broadcaster China Central Television showed a multistory building and more than a dozen vehicles covered in mud.
    — Shristi Kafle, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In Tibet, a mudslide that struck near the land border crossing of Gyirong Port on Wednesday left mud in the surrounding areas that was more than 5 feet deep on average, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
    — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • With the Bombers’ bullpen depleted, the junk-balling lefty didn’t allow a baserunner while recording a three-inning save after Cole hit the showers.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Carlyle pitched itself as a local hero in contrast to New York hustlers and greenmailers, replacing its backing from Drexel Burnham’s junk-bond king, Michael Milken, with money from blue-chip names like the Mellon family.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of junk
Noun
  • William Gottlieb’s suit also notes that Urban Zen hosts catered gatherings that generate food garbage, therefore creating fodder for the rats.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Once on the first floor, state police found that this area of the home was also cluttered with various things as well as large black garbage bags filled with unknown items, the search warrant said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of garbage
Verb
  • But even the most dependable pieces eventually become too stained, scratched, or mismatched for food storage.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Clark’s denim featured unique distressing, looking as if the denim was once white and stained with coffee.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • After about a month of consistently moist soil in a warm place with bright, indirect light, your chrysanthemum cutting should be rooted.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Stronger downdraft winds and loose, dry soil can impact how much dust is lifted into the air.
    — Brandi D. Addison, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Burnt on cheese and sauce still stained a bit, even with a dark charcoal gray glaze, but that was more of an aesthetic issue than anything affecting performance.
    — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On weekdays, a steady stream of regulars stop in the light and bright space for their morning coffee and croissant or to sit for a bit with a ham and cheese sandwich and one of the shop’s seasonal specialty drinks.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheese
Noun
  • Statham, who turned 59 this summer and is still in incredible shape, performs on his usual high-octane, no-time-for-nonsense level.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The nonsense began last year as a stunt tied to a cryptocurrency group, but more recently has been linked to groups protesting league policies.
    — Greg Cote August 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonsense

Phrases Containing muck

Browse Nearby Words

mucilages
muck
muck (about or around)
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Cite this Entry

“Muck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muck. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on muck

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about muck

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