ill-defined
adjective
: not easy to see or understand
The property's borders are ill-defined.
an ill-defined mission
Examples of ill-defined in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The revision of net neutrality rules has disappeared from the version of the Digital Networks Act currently being worked on, while the initiative to rebalance market conditions between telecoms and big tech companies is ill-defined.
—
Mila Fiordalisi, Wired News, 24 Nov. 2025
The campaign has even drawn criticism from advocates of the War on Terror, a similarly sprawling and ill-defined military campaign that stretched the limits of executive power.
—Richard Hall, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
However, when intentions were ill-defined or assumed (sometimes based on hegemonic, often Christian, power dynamics), conversations about religious differences devolved from uncomfortable to hostile and even harmful.
—Matthew Mayhew, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Worn with the wrong pieces, the look can seem messy or ill-defined.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The choices facing Matty and Olympia at the end of the finale seemed ill-defined, as did the stakes.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Instead, voters are being asked to approve Measure A, which would empower the county Board of Supervisors, by a four-fifths vote, to remove Corpus from office for any of five different broad and ill-defined reasons.
—Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
Likewise, Gascón felt that Emilia’s sexuality was ill-defined.
—Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Jan. 2025
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Mila Fiordalisi, Wired News, 24 Nov. 2025
The campaign has even drawn criticism from advocates of the War on Terror, a similarly sprawling and ill-defined military campaign that stretched the limits of executive power.
—Richard Hall, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
However, when intentions were ill-defined or assumed (sometimes based on hegemonic, often Christian, power dynamics), conversations about religious differences devolved from uncomfortable to hostile and even harmful.
—Matthew Mayhew, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Worn with the wrong pieces, the look can seem messy or ill-defined.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The choices facing Matty and Olympia at the end of the finale seemed ill-defined, as did the stakes.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Instead, voters are being asked to approve Measure A, which would empower the county Board of Supervisors, by a four-fifths vote, to remove Corpus from office for any of five different broad and ill-defined reasons.
—Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
Likewise, Gascón felt that Emilia’s sexuality was ill-defined.
—Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill-defined.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-defined. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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