vagueness
Lack of clarity
Vagueness is the quality of being unclear, imprecise, or indefinite.
A statement has vagueness when its meaning or boundaries aren't sharply defined: The vagueness of the contract led to disputes.
Vagueness can be accidental or strategic—politicians sometimes cultivate vagueness to avoid commitment.
In philosophy, vagueness refers to concepts with fuzzy boundaries, like "tall" or "bald," where no precise cutoff exists.
Lack of sharpness
- fogLow-lying cloud cover
- mistFine airborne moisture
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- cloudinessAtmospheric opacity from vapor
dimness · murkiness · fuzziness · nebulousness · smokiness · blurriness · soft-focus · gauzy
Uncertain in meaning
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- imprecisionLack of exactness
- indefinitenessLack of clear boundaries
equivocation · polysemy · connotation · loophole · hedging · qualification · evasion · noncommittal
In a confused state
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- confusingCausing mental uncertainty
- bewilderingCausing utter confusion
perplexing · disorienting · unclear · unintelligible · incoherent · jumbled · garbled · scrambled
Without distinct shape
- shapelessLacking distinct structure
- unformedWithout developed structure
- formlessLacking definite shape
- unstructuredLacking imposed order
nebulous · diffuse · boundless · indeterminate · featureless · protean · inchoate · fluid
Not precisely determined
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- undeterminedNot yet established
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- nonspecificNot clearly defined
broad · abstract · generic · approximate · rough · loose · sketchy · open-ended
Dark and unclear
- opaqueImpassable to light
- crypticObscure in meaning
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
arcane · esoteric · obfuscated · impenetrable · veiled · shrouded · concealed · abstruse
blur
Lack of sharpness
cloudiness · dimness · murkiness · fuzziness · nebulousness · smokiness · blurriness · soft-focus · gauzy · filmy
equivocal
Uncertain in meaning
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- imprecisionLack of exactness
indefiniteness · equivocation · polysemy · connotation · loophole · hedging · qualification · evasion · noncommittal · fence-sitting
muddled
In a confused state
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- confusingCausing mental uncertainty
bewildering · perplexing · disorienting · unclear · unintelligible · incoherent · jumbled · garbled · scrambled · convoluted
amorphous
Without distinct shape
- shapelessLacking distinct structure
- unformedWithout developed structure
- formlessLacking definite shape
unstructured · nebulous · diffuse · boundless · indeterminate · featureless · protean · inchoate · fluid · malleable
indefinite
Not precisely determined
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- undeterminedNot yet established
- generalWidespread, not specialized
nonspecific · broad · abstract · generic · approximate · rough · loose · sketchy · open-ended · blanket
murky
Dark and unclear
inscrutable · arcane · esoteric · obfuscated · impenetrable · veiled · shrouded · concealed · abstruse · occluded
- evasive languageequivocation, hedging, circumlocution, doublespeak, weasel words
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- imprecisionimprecision, inexactness, inaccuracy, fuzziness, approximation
- ambiguityambiguity, ambivalence, double meaning, equivocation, uncertainty
- indirectnesscircumlocution, euphemism, hedging, hint, hinting
vaguenessclarity
State of being understandable
clearness · lucidity · explicitness · perspicuity · intelligibility
vaguenessprecision
Accuracy of measurement
exactness · specificity · exactitude · preciseness · particularity
vaguenessdefinition
Statement of meaning
sharpness · distinctness · clarity · crispness · focus