broad-brush
Lacking fine detail
Broad-brush describes something done in general terms without attention to fine details or nuances: a broad-brush approach to policy, broad-brush strokes of history.
The image is of a painter covering large areas quickly rather than working with precision.
Often carries a hint of criticism—that important distinctions are being glossed over.
Broad general summary
- outlineSummary of key elements
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- high-levelAbstract, not detailed
- big-pictureComprehensive overall perspective
gestalt · macroscopic · strategic · holistic · bird's-eye · thumbnail · rough · impressionistic
Unclear, ill-defined
- impreciseLacking exactness or accuracy
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
blurry · indistinct · unspecific · loose · inexact · rough-hewn · coarse · unrefined
Extensive and far-reaching
- comprehensiveIncluding all elements
- wide-rangingCovering many subjects
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
- extensiveCovering a large scope
blanket · umbrella · across-the-board · wholesale · panoramic · expansive · global · universal
Fixed oversimplified notion
- oversimplifyRemove essential complexity
- lumpShapeless solid mass
- conflateMerge distinct elements
- homogenizeMake uniformly consistent
typecast · categorize · pigeonhole · essentialize · universalize · extrapolate · blur · average
overview
Broad general summary
- outlineSummary of key elements
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- high-levelAbstract, not detailed
big-picture · gestalt · macroscopic · strategic · holistic · bird's-eye · thumbnail · rough · impressionistic · approximation
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
hazy · blurry · indistinct · unspecific · loose · inexact · rough-hewn · coarse · unrefined · undetailed
sweeping
Extensive and far-reaching
- comprehensiveIncluding all elements
- wide-rangingCovering many subjects
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
extensive · blanket · umbrella · across-the-board · wholesale · panoramic · expansive · global · universal · overarching
stereotype
Fixed oversimplified notion
- oversimplifyRemove essential complexity
- lumpShapeless solid mass
- conflateMerge distinct elements
homogenize · typecast · categorize · pigeonhole · essentialize · universalize · extrapolate · blur · average · shortcut
- oversimplificationgeneralizes, stereotypes, reduces, reductive, essentializes
- generalizingabstracting, categorizing, grouping, oversimplifying, blanket statements
broad-brushdetailed
Full of specifics
fine-grained · granular · specific · in-depth · nuanced
broad-brushmeticulous
Showing extreme attention to detail
painstaking · precise · careful · exacting · rigorous
brush, broad, broadcast, broaden, brushing, brushed, brushes, broadening, breadth