The Difference Between Turbid, Turbulent, and Turgid

Today, we will learn about three words: turbid, turbulent, and turgid. They all sound a bit alike but have very different meanings.

History and Meaning

Turbid

Turbid comes from the Latin word “turbidus,” which means muddy or full of mud. This word is used to describe liquids that are not clear, like water with dirt in it.

Turbulent

Turbulent comes from the Latin word “turbulentus,” meaning stormy or full of commotion. This word describes things that are disorderly or violent, like stormy weather or a rough airplane ride.

Turgid

Turgid comes from the Latin word “turgidus,” which means swollen or puffed up. This word is used to describe something that is swollen, but it can also mean speech or writing that is very fancy and overdone.

How to Use Them

Turbid in Sentences

• The river water was turbid after the storm.
• The pond became turbid when they stirred the mud.
• You cannot see through turbid water.
• The fish struggled to swim in the turbid lake.
• The juice turned turbid when mixed with the powder.

Turbulent in Sentences

• The plane ride was turbulent due to the storm.
• The sea was turbulent with large waves.
• The turbulent winds knocked over the trees.
• The child’s behavior was turbulent after eating sugar.
• The crowd became turbulent after the game.

Turgid in Sentences

• The flower stem was turgid with water.
• His speech was full of turgid language.
• The balloon became turgid as it filled with air.
• The book was hard to read because of its turgid writing.
• The fruit was turgid under the hot sun.

Trick to Remember the Difference

A good way to remember these words is:

• Turbid: Think “muddy water”.
• Turbulent: Think “stormy and chaotic”.
• Turgid: Think “swollen or overdone”.

Summary of Usage

Turbid is used to talk about liquids that are not clear and have things floating in them. Turbulent is used to describe things that are chaotic or stormy. Turgid is used to talk about things that are swollen or overly fancy.

By remembering the simple tricks and using the words in sentences, you can easily tell them apart and use them correctly.