handwavy

Lacking rigorous detail

Handwavy describes explanations or arguments that gloss over important details, substituting vague gestures for rigor.

The term evokes someone waving their hands to distract from gaps in logic or precision: His proof was pretty handwavy in the middle section.

Common in technical and academic contexts, where it signals that something lacks the specificity to be convincing: The proposal's cost estimates were handwavy at best.

vague

imprecise

Lacking exactness or accuracy

hazy · unclear · unspecific · loose · general · broad · sweeping · airy · gauzy · wishy-washy

unrigorous

sloppy

Careless and untidy

speculative · conjectural · baseless · unfounded · unproven · arbitrary · ad-hoc · makeshift · improvisational · seat-of-pants

dismissive

brushoff

Abrupt, curt rejection

offhand · breezy · nonchalant · casual · perfunctory · superficial · glossing · sidestepping · dodging · deflecting

Categories
Opposites
rigor and precision

handwavyrigorous

Extremely thorough and careful

meticulous · precise · exacting · methodical · systematic

specificity

handwavyspecific

Clearly defined, not vague

exact · concrete · explicit · definite · particular

thoroughness of treatment

handwavythorough

Complete in every detail

exhaustive · comprehensive · in-depth · substantive · fleshed out

Family

handwaving, handwave, handwaves, handwaved

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G