Dark, gloomy, and hard to see through, either literally (like cloudy water) or figuratively (like unclear information).
From Middle English and Old Norse origins, likely related to 'mirk' meaning darkness. The word evolved from describing physical darkness to also mean obscure or suspicious situations.
Murky water is actually scientifically interesting—it's usually caused by sediment and organisms that scatter light in all directions, which is why it's so hard to see through. Writers love this word for mysterious villains because it sounds sinister!
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