unclear

adjective

un·​clear ˌən-ˈklir 

: not clear: such as

a

: difficult to understand

an unclear explanation

unclear instructions

an unclear reference

b

: confused or uncertain about something

—often used with about

was a little unclear about how to proceed

unclearly adverb

speaking unclearly

an unclearly remembered incident

Synonyms of unclear

• vague
• ambiguous

Examples of unclear in a Sentence

their suggestion for correcting the problem is a bit unclear

obtained at best an unclear glimpse of the rarely seen bird from across the road

Recent Examples on the Web

How extensive that process was is unclear since Stuart Romanoff, the board president, declined to comment. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026

If the answer is unclear, the layer may reflect an information architecture that AI is changing. — Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Roberts appeared in court a week later, but the circumstances surrounding his earlier absence remain unclear. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

The exact reason for its removal remains unclear, and a rep for Third Man said the label wasn’t able to provide any additional insight on the matter. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unclear

• unclear on the concept of

Rhymes for unclear

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir