✅ Obscure and murky both describe things that aren’t clear because of certain circumstances. These can be physical things or non-physical things (The facts were obscure; The details of the case were murky).

✅ When used to describe physical things, obscure suggests that something isn’t clear because of interference with the light or your vision (He sat in an obscure corner of the restaurant). Murky suggests a kind of darkness that’s thick or misty, and hard to see through (They suddenly materialized from the murky shadows).

✅ If someone’s meaning is obscure, then it is hard to understand because they haven’t expressed themselves well. Murky can also describe arguments, ideas, and thoughts, but is less common in that context.

✅ Murky is so often used with the word water that it is now part of a metaphor (I couldn’t navigate the murky waters of his argument).

Make your meaning less obscure with these synonyms for murky.

✅  Own is the best verb when you have the rights to something and are in control of it (They own a restaurant). However, someone else can rent or borrow something that you own.

✅  Possess also refers to control of something, and especially with regard to real estate, suggests that you own a large amount of it (Lord Richard possessed huge tracts of land).

✅  Possess is more formal than own, and emphasizes that you have complete control. It can also be used to refer to control of intangible things (He possesses a lot of power), or being controlled by supernatural forces (A ghost possessed the doll).

Own the process of learning synonyms, and you’ll possess a great vocabulary!

✅  Ability and faculty both refer to having the power to do something well. Ability can refer to power that is either innate or learned (She had outstanding athletic ability).

✅  Faculty suggests that the power is innate, and generally applies to a particular action or skill, rather than an entire skillset (He had a faculty for making people comfortable).

✅  The plural form, faculties, refers to the innate, natural capabilities that humans typically have, like being able to remember things and think clearly. This is often used with the word mental (While her musical ability was intact, her mental faculties were declining).

Improve your ability in English with these synonyms for faculty!