unclear

adjective

un·​clear ˌən-ˈklir How to pronounce unclear (audio)
Synonyms of unclearnext
: 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.
The person’s cause of death was unclear Thursday afternoon. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025 With the fate of the Center City building unclear, this year's displays have drawn unusually large crowds, fueled by concern that the spectacle may not return after this year. Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2025 Shark attacks generally appear to fall into three categories — predatory, accidental and defensive — though the reason behind any specific incident is often unclear, Lowe said. Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025 The exact methods of how the three escaped and were able to leave the facility without being noticed are unclear, officials said. Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 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 27 Dec. 2025.

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