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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
But as the movement has grown, what is considered justice in regard to food is increasingly nebulous.
—
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Read’s book is a great explanatory account of the industry, connecting big, nebulous ideas like neoliberalism to actual concrete things.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
If justice means anything any more, a federal judge will easily swipe through Hegseth’s nebulous legal fantasies, and preserve the possibility that someday, the Endangered Species Act might actually help save endangered species in the Gulf.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
The legal conversation is settled, and far more explicit than other consequential decisions in which the court must weigh potentially conflicting precedents and nebulous congressional intent.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nebulous
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Read’s book is a great explanatory account of the industry, connecting big, nebulous ideas like neoliberalism to actual concrete things.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
If justice means anything any more, a federal judge will easily swipe through Hegseth’s nebulous legal fantasies, and preserve the possibility that someday, the Endangered Species Act might actually help save endangered species in the Gulf.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
The legal conversation is settled, and far more explicit than other consequential decisions in which the court must weigh potentially conflicting precedents and nebulous congressional intent.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nebulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nebulous
Adjective
-
Text messages in court records show a brief and ambiguous exchange between McCluskie and Williamson that backs that up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
The apparent conflict highlights the ambiguous rules around recall status and its relevance in a trial that’s been peppered with globe-trotting billionaires.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Two Chinese defense companies have issued vague statements that together point to a possible new long-distance shooting record, although neither has provided technical specifications or independently verifiable data.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Teenagers often respond better to concrete information than vague warnings.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Thousands of fans have also been engaging with Nikki’s increasingly obsessive, unsettling texts, voice notes and special deliveries after encountering cryptic billboards across Los Angeles and New York, each featuring her obsessive messages alongside a phone number inviting them to reach out.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
The film, which stars Hannah Einbinder as a filmmaker tasked with revamping a tired summer camp horror franchise with its cryptic lead played by Gillian Anderson in tow, is set to make its way to theaters this August.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Auroras are surprisingly faint to the naked eye at first, especially during weaker geomagnetic storms, so dark skies make a huge difference.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
That can sound damning with faint praise, with his lack of wins, but people actually mean it.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Researchers have also warned that excessive nighttime lighting can affect human circadian rhythms and obscure views of the night sky for much of the global population.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
20 May 2026
-
Their writings didn't always reference the pseudoscience and conspiracy theories found in obscure online hate spaces.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
But its geological origins are hazy.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Even if my archive was unverifiable or incongruous, the hazy, contradictory landscape of Goodman’s life was the truth of her existence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Baha Mar is large in stature, sure—and Rosewood is part of a three-hotel complex across the bay from Atlantis, which looms large and brooding over its own end of the water as everything Baha Mar does not want to be—dated, dark, and reminiscent of Spring Break Past.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Also fascinating were their contrasting likenesses, dark against light housed in the same being, a human eclipse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nebulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nebulous. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
