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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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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Recent Examples of nebulous
Employers who claimed the ERC under the more nebulous governmental order test should therefore expect more difficulties and delays in proving their claims.
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Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The committee doesn’t yet exist, but already Musk has used his presence on X and this new government-adjacent, if nebulous, position to dictate policy.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
Stakeholders must navigate a web of nebulous features, varying accuracy figures and wide-ranging prices.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Pyongyang is not a pariah state and has reliable foreign backers—great powers driven not by some nebulous ideology but by cold, pragmatic, long-term calculations.
—Andrei Lankov, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nebulous 
Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The committee doesn’t yet exist, but already Musk has used his presence on X and this new government-adjacent, if nebulous, position to dictate policy.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
Stakeholders must navigate a web of nebulous features, varying accuracy figures and wide-ranging prices.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Pyongyang is not a pariah state and has reliable foreign backers—great powers driven not by some nebulous ideology but by cold, pragmatic, long-term calculations.
—Andrei Lankov, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nebulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nebulous
Adjective
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Below, Gersten opens up about her reaction to Anderson’s casting, the meaning behind the purposefully ambiguous ending, Curtis’ memorable dance number, and more.Mike Miller, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
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When a statute is ambiguous, Congress has left a gap for the agency to fill.Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Instead of having the nerve to just say it, BSU put out vague, whiny press releases, apparently trying to minimize outrage on both sides.Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Jan. 2025
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Early on, that information was useful in forming a vague picture of our interests and behaviors.Jon Kirchner, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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That leaves open a mystery Smith sparked on Monday with a cryptic Instagram post noting how Smith passed on the starring role of Neo in the original 1999 sci-fi epic The Matrix, directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
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On Monday, the actor shared a cryptic post on his Instagram about his decision to pass on the role of Neo in the original Matrix with a few interesting questions.Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These include detailed observations of the super-heated plasma that fills the space between galaxies — known as the intracluster medium — and faint light emitted by a nearby supernova remnant.Victoria Corless, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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The early fixtures are pretty low-key, although there is the faint whiff of a prospective upset with League One Peterborough against increasingly beleaguered Everton.Nick Miller, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In 2019, creative director Michael Goldberg stumbled upon an obscure website reference to Luna Luna, and spearheaded the effort to resurrect the art-adventure park, enlisting Canadian rapper, singer, and actor Drake, who invested $100 million with his entertainment company, DreamCrew.Natasha Gural, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
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In between catchy dances and obscure trends, TikTok has become a life-changing platform for many.Sara Belcher, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After the multiple reports of the train delays, a first responder at the apartment building said over radio that there was burned food in a second-floor apartment and a slight hazy smoke on the second floor.Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
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In the 2010s, when people were coming and buying four-packs of hazy I.P.A. for $16, $18, $20 directly from breweries, that was a very lucrative time.Terence McGinley, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The photos illuminate a dark planet scientists are eager to learn more about.Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Schaeffer, 22, was seen leaving her home on May 23, 2022, with her black-and-white cat, Izzy, and getting into a dark gray BMW that had been parked across the street for six hours, according to security video.Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Read more Map shows LeBron James' home surrounded by Los Angeles fires Bill Skarsgård's mysterious Count Orlok unveiled in new look at Nosferatu California wildfires push insurance crisis to 'new level' Newsweek has contacted PomegranateDry4848 comment via Reddit.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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The mysterious news promised by the Grammy winner was initially set to go live on Tuesday (Jan. 14).DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Nebulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nebulous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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