unspecific

adjective

Definition of unspecificnext
as in vague

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 unspecific The government will be fictional and unspecific, but the problems will be real. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2026 Although calls for violence from ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Iranian terror groups have reportedly intensified since America’s war with Iran began, these appeals are typically vague and unspecific. — Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026 The group confirmed the news Saturday (February 8) on their official social media, sharing that Smith died after an unspecific illness. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026 The book begins by the deathbed of an elderly sister whose two remaining sisters have a falling out over cake—the kind of domestic spat that becomes mythic and completely unspecific, the details lost in a lingering fog of resentment. — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unspecific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unspecific
  1. vague
  2. ambiguous
  3. indefinite
  4. inexplicit
  5. equivocal
Adjective
  • Occasionally, there is a vague resignation, but direct accountability is rare.
    — Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Find the point where judgment disappeared, ownership became vague or an old instruction remained available after its context changed.
    — Mani Padisetti, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Not in some ambiguous, interpretive way—but with your actual eyes.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Pathak describes Vijay Salgaonkar as increasingly morally ambiguous across the three films, anchored by one constant.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • The defense argued that Clancy should be found not criminally responsible due to improperly treated mental illness, a verdict that likely would have resulted in her indefinite commitment to a forensic psychiatric facility.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The outcome of the investigation, Balon said, resulted in the officer receiving a demotion in rank, an unpaid suspension, an indefinite suspension from the use of Flock and remedial ethics training.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of indefinite
Adjective
  • Its particular target at that particular church on that particular morning remains the gesture’s one inexplicit feature.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2021
Definition of inexplicit
Adjective
  • Perhaps no modernist artist proved less equivocal regarding form than Brancusi (save perhaps Mondrian).
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • But when McGill sent me her summary of the study later, the results were equivocal.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of equivocal

Browse Nearby Words

unspecialized
unspecific
unspecified
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unspecific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unspecific. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All