inexplicit

adjective

in·​ex·​plic·​it ˌi-nik-ˈspli-sət How to pronounce inexplicit (audio)
: 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

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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inexplicit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inexplicit was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near inexplicit

Cite this Entry

“Inexplicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inexplicit. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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