What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
murkiness
Example
The murkiness of the company's financial records made it difficult to determine their true profits. [murkiness: noun]
Example
The political situation was shrouded in murkiness, and no one knew what would happen next. [murkiness: noun]
opacity
Example
The opacity of the government's decision-making process left many citizens feeling frustrated and powerless. [opacity: noun]
Example
The scientific paper was criticized for its opacity, as even experts had trouble understanding the findings. [opacity: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Opacity is less common than murkiness in everyday language and is more often used in specialized fields such as science, technology, and finance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between murkiness and opacity?
Opacity is generally considered more formal than murkiness, but both words can be used in a variety of formality levels depending on the context.
