Mud: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used to describe wet, soft earth, often mixed with water. Suitable for general use.

• The children played in the mud after the rain
• His boots were covered in mud

A colloquial term often used to describe dirt, filth, or manure. Has a mildly negative connotation and is used informally.

• After the flood, the basement was filled with muck
• He scraped the muck off his shoes before entering the house

Used to describe thick, soft, wet mud or a similar viscous mixture of liquid and solid components. Commonly found in industrial or polluted contexts.

• The factory's waste pipe was clogged with sludge
• Cleaning the sludge from the pond was a difficult task

Refers to a type of fine-grained natural soil material with plastic properties. Often used in crafting and construction.

• The artist used clay to sculpt a beautiful vase
• The construction crew needed more clay for the bricks

A mix of soil and water, often found on the ground after rain or in wetlands. It is commonly associated with natural environments.

• The children played in the mud after the rainstorm.
• My shoes are covered in mud from the hike.

Loose soil or earth that can be found in gardens, construction sites, or as a small amount of dust. It is a more general and common term.

• There's some dirt on your shirt.
• We need some fresh dirt for the flower pots.

Extremely dirty matter, often with a negative connotation. It suggests something that is disgusting and unclean.

• The abandoned house was filled with filth.
• The restaurant was closed due to filth in the kitchen.

A bog or swampy ground that is difficult to move through. It is often used metaphorically to describe difficult situations.

• The vehicle got stuck in the mire during the off-road trip.
• The company was mired in scandal.

Typically used to describe dirty, wet earth. This word can also metaphorically refer to damaging someone's reputation but in a more informal or colloquial context.

• His shoes were covered in mud after the hike.
• They tried to drag his name through the mud during the trial.

Used in a formal context to denote accusing someone of doing something wrong or illegal which damages their reputation. Often used in legal settings.

• The newspaper was sued for defaming the politician.
• She claimed they intended to defame her character with false allegations.

Refers to the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. Mostly used in legal or formal discussions.

• He was taken to court for slandering his colleague.
• Accusations of slander were brought against the media outlet for their baseless claims.

Often used in a political or public relations context to describe purposeful attempts to damage someone's reputation by spreading false information.

• The candidate's opponents launched a smear campaign against her.
• They tried to smear his reputation with lies and rumors.