as in vague
not expressed in precise terms
for questions like "What do you think of my new haircut?" sometimes an inexplicit response is safest
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Recent Examples of inexplicit
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inexplicit
Adjective
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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At the time, viewers had vague familiarity with these six faces, like Courteney Cox from Family Ties or Lisa Kudrow from Mad About You.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The increase is driven by panic over the unclear plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
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Reports are unclear about who else was in the house at the time this took place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Times when a gay man from Texas needn’t rely on ambiguous pronouns and discreet interviews to court a broad audience.—
Brian Howe,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2026
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And as a result, the show — accompanied by some quite instructive poster art — stays true to the book’s lusty approach to ethically ambiguous relationships in academia.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inexplicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inexplicit. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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