inexplicit

adjective

in·​ex·​plic·​it ˌi-nik-ˈspli-sət 

: not explicit: such as

a

: not fully or clearly revealed or expressed

Discussions about covert racism are often short-lived because of the notion that there's no way to measure inexplicit racism.

—Ayesha Ghaffar

b

: expressing something in an ambiguous, vague, or incomplete way

The law is inexplicit on this point.

… able to speak to him only in the evasive and inexplicit terms of courtly literature.

—Nicolette Zeeman

c

: not open in the depiction of nudity or sexuality

an inexplicit love scene

Synonyms

• vague
• unclear
• ambiguous

Examples of inexplicit in a Sentence

for questions like “What do you think of my new haircut?” sometimes an inexplicit response is safest

Recent Examples on the Web

Douglas argued that the U.S. Constitution allows for several inexplicit rights, all of which flow from other protections explicitly stated in the document. —Alexandra M. Lord, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2022

Its particular target at that particular church on that particular morning remains the gesture’s one inexplicit feature. —Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2021

Looking beyond the draft, several college coaches recruiting Adams employed what has been a common technique: discouraging in casual, inexplicit terms multi-sport recruits from pursuing two sports. —Robert Klemko, The MMQB, 13 July 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inexplicit

• complicit
• elicit
• explicit
• illicit
• implicit
• solicit
• licit