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
On top of these apparitions, a human foe, whose motives for committing a crime seem rather nebulous, also exists.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Trump's nebulous decree immediately put him at odds with GOP leaders in Congress, who have been urging a swift end to the ongoing funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security over Democrats' calls for immigration enforcement reform.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Peace stirs as the Love Goddess Venus conjoins nebulous Neptune, inviting the kind of deep rest that’s necessary for true forgiveness.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Executive leaders have their own nebulous expectations for fiscal stewardship.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nebulous
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Trump's nebulous decree immediately put him at odds with GOP leaders in Congress, who have been urging a swift end to the ongoing funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security over Democrats' calls for immigration enforcement reform.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Peace stirs as the Love Goddess Venus conjoins nebulous Neptune, inviting the kind of deep rest that’s necessary for true forgiveness.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Executive leaders have their own nebulous expectations for fiscal stewardship.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nebulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nebulous
Adjective
-
Event-betting markets flourish in ambiguous or unevenly-enforced legal environments.—
Kelli María Korducki,
thehustle.co,
3 Apr. 2026
-
War is about politics—and therefore, objectives, which are particularly political, are often ambiguous and subject to change.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nor is this some vague or emotional objection.—
Kelsey Maurine Brickl,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
-
With such a sheer volume of work coming out, the anime market can get crowded, and its easy for these works to bleed together into a vague blob of gag comedies, action-adventure shows, and sickly-sweet romances.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Investigators later linked the device to materials recovered from Zheng’s home and a burner phone used to place a cryptic 911 call warning about the bomb.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The news arrives after months of Rodrigo teasing new music, most recently a cryptic hotline message that alluded to this year’s pink moon, which occurred on April 2.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Like Colleen, Giurgis’ adaptation is allergic to the faintest traces of sincerity or urgency.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Winnipeg Jets came to Ball Arena and kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 victory against the league-leading Avalanche.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
More elderly people could find themselves at the mercy of an obscure government program meant to save them from harm and preserve their dignity when their ability to take care of themselves is diminished.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Lyrics in the song include clear references to Taylor’s life and style, and also some more obscure Easter-egg-type reference.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a break from decades of tradition, the band walked onto the stage in total darkness, visible to the crowd only in hazy silhouette.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Once you're set up, use your phone to scan the skies for faint hazy glows.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On the last night that anybody else reportedly saw Nancy, that camera caught a glimpse of a person clad in dark clothes, wearing gloves and a black balaclava, unidentifiable, standing at the threshold.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Not only did that article form the basis of the film, but Lumet actually took the note and cast Pacino in the role of that dark, thin fellow.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nebulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nebulous. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
