2
: a muddy or slushy mass, deposit, or sediment: such as
a
: precipitated solid matter produced by water and sewage treatment processes
b
: muddy sediment in a steam boiler
c
: a precipitate or settling (such as a mixture of impurities and acid) from a mineral oil
3
Examples of sludge in a Sentence
after a day of heavy rain, the fairgrounds had turned into pure sludge
I can't bring myself to read that sludge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Reichardt’s previous films, such as her retro Westerns Meek’s Cutoff and First Cow, have tended towards sludge and shadows, but her competition closer opens with the golden leaves of a New England fall, slightly faded to the paler golds of an Ektachrome postcard of the era.
—
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Add the bark powder, which turns into DMT-laden sludge.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Place a soil sample in a jar, add enough distilled water to dissolve the soil into a thin sludge, and add a spoonful of baking soda.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 May 2025
Irresponsible extraction can contaminate waterways, diminish drinking water, and send toxic sludge downstream.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sludge
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Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Add the bark powder, which turns into DMT-laden sludge.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Place a soil sample in a jar, add enough distilled water to dissolve the soil into a thin sludge, and add a spoonful of baking soda.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 May 2025
Irresponsible extraction can contaminate waterways, diminish drinking water, and send toxic sludge downstream.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sludge
Cite this Entry
“Sludge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sludge. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
sludge
1 of 2 noun
: a semisolid precipitated mass or deposit
biliary sludge
especially
: sludged blood
sludge
2 of 2 intransitive verb
sludged; sludging
: to form sludge
positions that cause blood to sludge—L. K. Altman
L. K. AltmanLove words? Need even more definitions?
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