What does turbidly mean?
Turbidly is a formal adverb meaning “in a turbid manner.” It describes something becoming or existing in a cloudy, muddy, or opaque condition, most often when referring to water or sediment. It also has a figurative use for speech, thoughts, and situations that are confused or difficult to understand: memories may return turbidly, or a troubled political climate may be described as turbid. The word belongs to the same family as turbid and turbidity and carries the underlying imagery of water whose clarity has been disturbed. Its literary character makes it particularly effective in descriptive writing, where it conveys both physical opacity and mental or social confusion. In less formal contexts, speakers usually choose cloudily, muddily, unclearly, or confusedly.
adverbIn a turbid manner, especially with mud or cloudiness; figuratively, in a confused or unclear way.
- In a cloudy, muddy, or opaque manner; figuratively, in a confused or unclear manner.
"The river surged turbidly after days of heavy rain."
"Sediment stirred the shallow pool turbidly as the children crossed it."
"Her thoughts grew turbidly as old doubts and anxieties resurfaced."
Turbidly can turn a glass of water into a picture of a confused mind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does turbidly come from?
Turbidly was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective turbid. Turbid comes from Latin turbidus, meaning “muddy,” “cloudy,” or “disordered.” It belongs to the Latin family associated with turba, meaning “crowd” or “tumult,” and turbare, meaning “to disturb,” which also produced turbulent and turbulence.
How turbidly is actually used
A formal or literary word, used especially for muddy or cloudy water and figuratively for confused thought, speech, or circumstances.
Easily confused with turbidly
Turbid is an adjective describing something as cloudy, muddy, or unclear, whereas turbidly is the adverb describing how such a condition occurs.