Nebulous: meaning, example and synonyms

Nebulousadj. Unclear, vague, or poorly defined.

Flashcard for Nebulous (adjective): unclear, vague, or poorly defined. Example: The committee's nebulous guidelines left teachers unsure which projects actually qualified for the new grant. Synonyms: vague, hazy, unclear, ill-defined. Antonyms: clear, precise, definite, explicit. Memory tip: A nebula is a cloud in space: nebulous ideas are cloudy. Illustration: a soft glowing nebula cloud in a starry night sky, its edges blurry and drifting.

Example

The committee's nebulous guidelines left teachers unsure which projects actually qualified for the new grant.

Part of speech
adjective
Synonyms
vague, hazy, unclear, ill-defined
Antonyms
clear, precise, definite, explicit
Memory tip
A nebula is a cloud in space: nebulous ideas are cloudy.

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Check yourself: Nebulous in context

Pick the word that best completes each text, as on the SAT's words-in-context questions.

Question 1

The mayor's plan for 'revitalizing downtown' remained ______; it named no budget, no timeline, and no specific buildings.

Question 2

Early astronomers offered only ______ explanations of the faint smudges they saw in the night sky, unsure whether they were clouds of gas or distant star systems.

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