English Explanatory Dictionary

vague

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
Not having a precise meaning.
Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.
Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.
Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
Lacking expression; vacant.
Not sharply outlined; hazy.
Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.

noun

An indefinite expanse.
A wandering; a vagary.

verb

to wander; to roam; to stray.
To become vague or act in a vague manner.
To make vague negative comments publicly; to make highly veiled complaints or insults.

Pronunciation

/veɪɡ/ /væɡ/ en-uk-vague.ogg en-us-vague.ogg

Word forms

vague vaguer vaguest vagues vaguing vagued

Etymology

From Middle French vague, from Latin vagus (“uncertain, vague”, literally “wandering, rambling, strolling”).

Synonyms

ambiguous equivocal fuzzy generic gray imperspicuous imprecise indeterminate indefinite indistinct murky nebulous turbid uncertain unclear undefined undefinable vague woolly inarticulate abstruse Chinese dense enigmatic fathomless Greek inapprehensible incognizable incomprehensible ineffable inenubilable inexplicable impenetrable insensible inscrutable insoluble insolvable mysterious nonunderstandable obscure retruse tenebrose thick undecipherable undiscoverable unexplainable unfathomable ungraspable unintelligible unknowable ununderstandable dazed vacant vacuous hazy ill-defined dim ill-marked indistinguishable muzzy

Antonyms

certain clear definable defined determinate definite distinct exact perspicuous precise

Related words

extravagant gay vague gender-vague noctivagant vagabond vagary vaguely vagueness vagus mysterious

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