Definition

Having a thick, soft, and often muddy texture, similar to sludge.

Example

The sludgy mixture made it difficult to walk through the marsh.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Did you notice how sludgy the water looks in the pond?

Yeah, it’s pretty gross! I wonder what happened.

I think it’s because of all the rain we’ve had lately.

That makes sense; it definitely needs some cleaning up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sludgy → The word 'sludgy' is derived from 'sludge' (of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English *slodg*, meaning a thick, viscous substance) with the suffix '-y' (meaning characterized by). Thus, 'sludgy' describes something that is characterized by or resembling sludge, typically thick and muddy in texture.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sludge' as a thick, gooey substance, and remember that 'sludgy' means something that has that thick, muddy quality.

Visually Confused Words