inexplicit
Left deliberately unclear
Inexplicit describes something that is not clearly or fully expressed, leaving room for ambiguity or misunderstanding.
It is the opposite of explicit and shares meaning with vague, unclear, or implicit.
Instructions might be inexplicit if they fail to spell out every necessary step: The contract was frustratingly inexplicit about payment terms.
The word sees limited use compared to its more common synonyms.
Unclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- blurryIndistinct, lacking definition
unclear · indefinite · unspecific · imprecise · ill-defined · amorphous · nonspecific · general
Understood without words
- implicitUnderstood without being stated
- unspokenNot verbally expressed
- unstatedNot openly expressed
- insinuatedIndirectly suggested something
hinted · suggested · inferred · understood · assumed · connoted · latent · underlying
Obscure in meaning
esoteric · abstruse · inscrutable · unfathomable · impenetrable · unintelligible · incomprehensible · recondite
Uncertain in meaning
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- uncertainNot firmly known
- open-endedLacking fixed boundaries
polysemous · multivalent · double-edged · two-way · interpretable · debatable · questionable · inconclusive
nebulous
Unclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
- fuzzySoft and unclear
blurry · unclear · indefinite · unspecific · imprecise · ill-defined · amorphous · nonspecific · general · approximate
tacit
Understood without words
insinuated · hinted · suggested · inferred · understood · assumed · connoted · latent · underlying · indirect
cryptic
Obscure in meaning
arcane · esoteric · abstruse · inscrutable · unfathomable · impenetrable · unintelligible · incomprehensible · recondite · hidden
equivocal
Uncertain in meaning
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- uncertainNot firmly known
open-ended · polysemous · multivalent · double-edged · two-way · interpretable · debatable · questionable · inconclusive · undecided
inexplicitexplicit
Clearly and directly expressed
clear · specific · unambiguous · definite · well-defined
inexplicitforthright
Directly honest in manner
direct · frank · candid · straightforward · unequivocal