turgid v. turbid

Literally, turgid means ‘swollen’ or ‘overflowing’; figuratively, it means ‘bombastic’ or ‘excessively ornate’.

Literally, turbid means ‘muddy’ or ‘clouded with sediment’; figuratively, it means ‘unclear’ or ‘muddled’.

Since these words sound so similar, and both can be used to describe liquids on the one hand and speech or writing on the other, they are often accidentally substituted for one another, and context rarely helps to decipher the author’s intent.

Random House on turgid v. turbid