nebulous

adjective

ˈne-byə-ləs How to pronounce nebulous (audio)
Definition of nebulousnext
1
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning made nebulous references to some major changes the future may hold

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly could just make out the nebulous outline of a fishing shack in the dense fog

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of nebulous The administration’s efforts, led by Vice President JD Vance, have sometimes been overestimated or nebulous. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Unlike cornrows or two-strand twists, which have clear, specific definitions, goddess braids are more nebulous. — Eden Stuart, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026 There aren’t easy answers for more nebulous skills such as understanding, communication, and vision. — Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026 Though these predictions exist weeks ahead of events, their impact on preparedness is nebulous. — Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nebulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nebulous
  1. ambiguous
  2. vague
  3. cryptic
  4. faint
  5. obscure
  6. hazy
  7. dark
Adjective
  • Jones, Cullen and Locke are pleased to hear how effective the ambiguous ending to Black Church Bay is.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That’s a question for next season, but their flirtation has been built around Sid’s ambiguous motives from the beginning.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Recent criticism The century-old restaurant guide is famous for its secrecy; its inspectors are anonymous and the company releases only vague information about their evaluation process.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The plaintiffs had argued those terms were vague, and that the council selectively used them to silence prominent critics, violating their First Amendment rights.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • The cryptic eco-disaster project will represent a loss of hundreds of millions when all is said and done.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Emanuel’s cryptic comment comes amid claims that Meghan was in early talks to star in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of cryptic
Adjective
  • But take a walk inside and the ground is laden with faint slabs of rock, gravestones from a centuries-old Indigenous family cemetery that had been obscured by the passage of time and neglect.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
  • However, the light cast by the waxing moon — just four days from being full — will likely reduce the number of visible meteors by hiding fainter Orionids from sight.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • What came next would eventually turn an obscure Medicaid settlement into a criminal investigation.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • There was very little original local production, and people were finding their favourite TV shows through obscure corners of the web.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • But the movie is a little hazy about what the father may have actually done.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The story takes place during the course of one evening, in a hazy spiritual plane where anguished souls are caught between life and the hereafter.
    — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dark

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Cite this Entry

“Nebulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nebulous. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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