Pronunciation: [mˈɜːkiə] (IPA) 
The word "murkier" is spelled /ˈmɜːkiə/, with the letter "u" followed by the letter "r" making the sound /ɜː/. This sound is known as the "schwa" sound, which is the most common vowel sound in English. The "k" sound is followed by the letter "i" which makes the sound /i/ and the final "er" ending makes the sound /ə/. The word "murkier" means more obscure, unclear or vague.
Murkier is an adjective that describes something as darker, cloudier, or more obscure, either literally or figuratively. In a literal sense, it refers to something that is characterized by a lack of light, clarity, or visibility, often resulting in a gloomy or dusky atmosphere. For example, a murky room would be dimly lit or have limited visibility due to poor lighting or heavy shadows. Similarly, murky waters are dark, clouded, or sediment-laden, making it difficult to see the bottom or objects beneath the surface.
In a figurative sense, murkier refers to something that is unclear, confused, or more complicated. It implies a lack of transparency or a difficulty in understanding a situation, concept, or idea. For instance, if a situation becomes murkier, it means it has become more perplexing, intricate, or ambiguous, making it harder to grasp or comprehend. This could apply to anything from a complex legal case with multiple layers and conflicting evidence to a murky business deal with hidden motives and questionable ethics.
Overall, in both its literal and figurative uses, murkier denotes a state of increased darkness, opacity, or complexity that hinders clarity, visibility, comprehension, or understanding.
The word "murkier" is derived from the base word "murky", which dates back to the late 15th century. "Murky" comes from the Middle English word "murki" meaning "dark, gloomy" and can be traced further back to the Old Norse word "myrkr" with the same meaning. The Old Norse term eventually evolved into the Middle English "murki" before taking its current form as "murky". The suffix "-ier" is added to form the comparative form of the adjective, indicating something that is more murky or darker than something else.
