unclear

adjective

un·​clear ˌən-ˈklir How to pronounce unclear (audio)
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What’s unclear is whether Staley even really wanted the Knicks job. Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025 And many of the particulars of the deal are still unclear, with the White House yet to release a term sheet or publish any proclamation codifying the agreement. Akayla Gardner, Fortune, 4 July 2025 Whether legislators will have the chance to vote for any of these bills is unclear. Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2025 Mercedes remains linked to Red Bull's Max Verstappen — leading to Russell's future becoming increasingly unclear. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for unclear

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unclear was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unclear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unclear. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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