Synonyms of nebulous

nebulous

adjective

ˈne-byə-ləs 

1

as in ambiguous

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning

made nebulous references to some major changes the future may hold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambiguous
• cryptic
• obscure
• dark
• vague
• mysterious
• murky
• enigmatic
• mystic
• unclear
• esoteric
• questionable
• opaque
• inscrutable
• uncertain
• equivocal
• arcane
• occult
• deep
• Delphic
• confusing
• elliptical
• fuliginous
• obscurant
• fuzzy
• hazy
• complicated
• weird
• indistinct
• shadowy
• recondite
• double-edged
• undefined
• abstruse
• uncanny
• eerie
• indirect
• indefinite
• difficult
• intangible
• foggy
• cloaked
• misty
• shrouded
• faint
• disguised
• incomprehensible
• clouded
• undetermined
• inexplicable
• muddy
• inexact
• invisible
• complex
• noncommittal
• dim
• unknowable
• indecipherable
• indistinguishable
• masked
• shaded
• cloudy
• puzzling
• obfuscatory
• concealed
• perplexing
• baffling
• impalpable
• inexplicit
• impenetrable
• unanswerable
• confounding
• bewildering
• mystifying
• unfathomable
• sphinxlike
• inappreciable
• obtuse
• beclouded
• circuitous
• shadowlike
• befogged
• roundabout
• bedimmed
• obnubilated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obvious
• clear
• unambiguous
• plain
• certain
• distinct
• unequivocal
• accessible
• understandable
• intelligible
• comprehensible
• evident
• bright
• strong
• legible
• sure
• defined
• knowable
• firm
• direct
• definite
• explicit
• nonambiguous
• pellucid
• fathomable
• tangible
• exact
• straightforward
• determined
• self-evident
• visible
• self-explanatory
• appreciable
• palpable
• unmistakable
• blatant
• patent

2

as in vague

not seen or understood clearly

could just make out the nebulous outline of a fishing shack in the dense fog

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vague
• faint
• hazy
• unclear
• undefined
• fuzzy
• indistinct
• shadowy
• obscure
• pale
• murky
• indefinite
• blurry
• dark
• undetermined
• opaque
• foggy
• misty
• dim
• indistinguishable
• bleary
• gauzy
• blear
• intangible
• dusky
• invisible
• gloomy
• mysterious
• incomprehensible
• inexplicable
• puzzling
• impalpable
• inappreciable
• obfuscatory
• indecipherable
• indiscernible
• hieroglyphic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• definite
• obvious
• distinct
• certain
• evident
• plain
• bright
• pellucid
• strong
• sure
• firm

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nebulous

It can’t be stopped, only passed along to someone else, like a nebulous disease metaphor in an edgy horror movie. — Chris Kelly, New Yorker, 28 July 2026

For reasons that are, at best, hazy, Lonnie had a meltdown of some amorphous type that had some sort of non-specific impact on his overall psyche, leaving him stuck in a nebulous rut. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

The theatrical angle is a bit more nebulous and weaker, Seilie argues. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 July 2026

Good binoculars will reveal a score of stars in this little group, while long-exposure observatory photographs show about 1000 in the area — all suffused in great clouds and streamers of nebulous light. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 July 2026

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