vague
not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises.
indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster.
not clear or distinct to the sight or any other sense; perceptible or recognizable only in an indefinite way: vague shapes in the dark;vague murmurs behind a door.
not definitely established, determined, confirmed, or known; uncertain: a vague rumor; The date of his birth is vague.
(of persons) not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression: vague about his motives;a vague person.
(of the eyes, expression, etc.) showing lack of clear perception or understanding: a vague stare.
Origin of vague
1Other words for vague
Other words from vague
- vague·ly, adverb
- vague·ness, noun
- un·vague, adjective
- un·vague·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use vague in a sentence
American military and intelligence leaders have only the vaguest of notions.
ISIS Has 9,000 ‘Core Fighters.’ Or Maybe 17,000. Or Possibly 30,000. | Tim Mak | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd yet, a man who is fine tuned to the vaguest whiff of anti Jewish sentiment blithely slurs Pakistanis, Chinese and women.
No Denial From Bret Stephens Re. Yeshiva University Panel Slurs | Lisa Goldman | October 29, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSome kind of evil life he was obviously confessing, but what kind she only guessed in the vaguest fashion.
Overland | John William De ForestYou had only the vaguest idea of what actually was being created, and why, and how it fitted into the broad scheme of society.
Security | Poul William AndersonEverything was of the vaguest description, without form and void.
Over the Rocky Mountains to Alaska | Charles Warren Stoddard
Alice nodded assent all the more readily that she had not the vaguest conception of what "it" might mean.
Tony Butler | Charles James LeverThis removal so seldom takes place that the vaguest notions abound as to any given person's specific gravity.
The Open Question | Elizabeth Robins
British Dictionary definitions for vague
/ (veɪɡ) /
(of statements, meaning, etc) not explicit; imprecise: vague promises
not clearly perceptible or discernible; indistinct: a vague idea; a vague shape
not clearly or definitely established or known: a vague rumour
(of a person or his expression) demonstrating lack of precision or clear thinking; absent-minded
Origin of vague
1Derived forms of vague
- vaguely, adverb
- vagueness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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