unclear

adjective

un·​clear ˌən-ˈklir How to pronounce unclear (audio)
: not clear: such as
a
: difficult to understand
an unclear explanation
unclear instructions
an unclear reference
b
: confused or uncertain about something
often used with about
was a little unclear about how to proceed
unclearly adverb
speaking unclearly
an unclearly remembered incident

Examples of unclear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The future of the Who beyond these Teenage Cancer Trust gigs is unclear. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024 But predicting our energy-storage needs in the future, after a huge energy transformation, is a daunting prospect, and which of these approaches, if any, will prove effective and profitable is unclear. Amos Zeeberg, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 The government’s intelligence agencies have briefed Congress about the app in closed-door hearings, but the nature of the evidence Congress has seen is unclear. Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 There is little doubt that regulators want to reign in Big Tech but whether that will be accomplished through unilateral bans is unclear. Olia Valigourskaia, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 What’s yet unclear is whether the conference’s initiative goes far enough. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 The reason the 118 has shown up at the spot where hundreds of men and women have stepped out of a limo with dreams of accepting roses is unclear. Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 But the long-term damage to the public perception of the prosecution remains unclear, particularly in light of Trump’s relentless barrage of attacks on the pair who pledged to hold Trump accountable but found their own actions under a public microscope. Alanna Durkin Richer, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2024 Following a motion from an attorney representing Cole’s family, the judge ordered an oral argument with 20 minutes for both sides to speak after conflicting testimonies from officers and witness observations left it unclear whether Cole had a gun in his hands. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unclear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unclear was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unclear

Cite this Entry

“Unclear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unclear. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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