Vague Definition & Meaning

vague
adjective
  1. not clearly understood or expressed; "an obscure turn of phrase"; "an impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit"-Anatole Broyard; "their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear"- P.A.Sorokin; "vague...forms of speech...have so long passed for mysteries of science"- John Locke
  2. not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished; "an undefined term"; "undefined authority"; "some undefined sense of excitement"; "vague feelings of sadness"; "a vague uneasiness"
  3. lacking clarity or distinctness; "a dim figure in the distance"; "only a faint recollection"; "shadowy figures in the gloom"; "saw a vague outline of a building through the fog"; "a few wispy memories of childhood"

Synonyms for vague

dim adj

lacking in light; not bright or harsh; "a dim light beside the bed

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faint adj

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc; "a faint outline

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indefinable adj

not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words; "an indefinable feeling of terror

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indeterminate adj

not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance; "of indeterminate age

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indistinct adj

not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand; "indistinct shapes in the gloom"; "an indistinct memory

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obscure adj

not clearly understood or expressed; "an obscure turn of phrase

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shadowy adj

filled with shade; "the shady side of the street"; "the surface of the pond is dark and shadowed

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unclear adj

poorly stated or described; "he confuses the reader with ill-defined terms and concepts" not clear to the mind

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undefined adj

not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished; "an undefined term"; "undefined authority

♫ Rhymes
wispy adj

thin and weak; "a wispy little fellow with small hands and feet"- Edmund Wilson lacking clarity or distinctness

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"Vague" in song lyrics

See how vague is used in real songs:

  • "Never go by face value cuz the message is vague"
    Crimewave — Don't Talk About Love
  • "Unwrapping the vague"
    Necro f/ Goretex, Ill Bill, Mr. Hyde — Nirvana
  • "With a curse on our mind our prayers seem vague"
    Pharcyde f/ Scott Wilson — World

Words that rhyme with vague

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Usage tips for "vague"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "vague" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for vague to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with vague ↔ Synonyms for vague 🔬 Words containing vague

Frequently asked questions

What does vague mean?
not clearly understood or expressed; "an obscure turn of phrase"; "an impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit"-Anatole Broyard; "their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear"- P.A.Sorokin; "vague...forms of speech...have so long passed for mysteries of science"- John Locke not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished; "an undefined term"; "undefined authority"; "some undefined sense of excitement"; "vague feelings of sadness
What part of speech is vague?
Vague is an adjective.
How many definitions does vague have?
Vague has 3 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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