sort of
To some extent
Sort of is a hedge that softens what follows—indicating approximation, qualification, or reluctance to commit fully.
I sort of agree with you means partial agreement.
It's sort of blue suggests the color isn't quite right.
The phrase can signal uncertainty I sort of forgot or downplay something We're sort of dating.
Often interchangeable with kind of.
To a moderate extent
- kindaCasual somewhat
- fairlyModerately or equitably
- relativelyIn proportion to another
- ratherSomewhat, or by preference
slightly · moderately · reasonably · mildly · a bit · a little · more or less · to some extent
In unclear fashion
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- roughlyIn approximate terms
- looselyWithout being tight
- inexactlyWithout full accuracy
imprecisely · not exactly · as it were · so to speak · if you will · quasi · pseudo · nominally
Not firmly known
- unsureLacking confidence or certainty
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- questionableOf uncertain validity
tentative · hesitant · noncommittal · indefinite · unclear · ambiguous · equivocal · inconclusive
somewhat
To a moderate extent
- kindaCasual somewhat
- fairlyModerately or equitably
- relativelyIn proportion to another
rather · slightly · moderately · reasonably · mildly · a bit · a little · more or less · to some extent · to a degree
vaguely
In unclear fashion
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- roughlyIn approximate terms
- looselyWithout being tight
inexactly · imprecisely · not exactly · as it were · so to speak · if you will · quasi · pseudo · nominally · arguably
uncertain
Not firmly known
questionable · tentative · hesitant · noncommittal · indefinite · unclear · ambiguous · equivocal · inconclusive · undecided
- filler phrasesum, uh, like, you know, I mean
- vague wordssomething, someone, somewhere, sometime, somehow
- not reallynot quite, maybe, hardly, barely, not exactly
- Timid expressionsum, uh, well, maybe, perhaps
- hedgessomewhat, I think, slightly, I believe, fairly
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
sort ofdefinitely
With complete certainty
certainly · absolutely · positively · unquestionably · undoubtedly
sort, of, assorted, resort, assortment, sorted, sorting, sorts, resorted