NEBULOUS Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

nebulous

adjective

ˈne-byə-ləs

Definition of nebulous

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The status of a potential Jon Snow show remains nebulous, even after previous reports it was passed on entirely. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 June 2026 When college senior Sloane pursues a nebulous affair with her mysterious neighbor Ethan, the road to heartbreak ends up functioning as a path to self-discovery. — Nissa Renzo, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 As a ritual romanticized for generations as one of the most significant events of a person’s life, the modern wedding tends to provoke a nebulous kind of introspection separating it from its most notable counterparts. — Bobby Finger june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Partnership seeks clearer reflection as the intuitive Moon in your 7th House of Partnership opposes nebulous Neptune in your 1st House of Identity, so connection and self-image pull in different directions. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nebulous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nebulous

Adjective

Vermeule—a former clerk for Scalia—proposes that conservatives should read the Constitution’s ambiguous phrases and general structure in an openly moral way, drawing on principles grounded in the nature and purposes of government.

— Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
Without a unified, clean, and accessible data structure, AI outputs quickly become ambiguous, hallucinated, and diluted, deepening the clarity crisis rather than resolving it.

— Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Adjective

There’s no reason to think, for example, that decisions made by political appointees based on vague standards would be any more transparent than those made by peer reviewers based on scientific merit.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
American Mission’s partnership with the company, as well as the ads’ vague message about Donalds, exemplify the opaque nature of the AI industry’s spending in the 2026 election cycle.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of vague

Adjective

It was filled with brackets and parentheticals, written in different fonts and colors, much of it in capital letters, at once detailed and cryptic.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
His doctors speculated his infection might have been a rare case of cryptic transmission from sharing meals and bathrooms with his coworkers, one of whom apparently had a tapeworm infection.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

Intentionally vague and obscure, the Daodejing would go on to inspire various interpretations ranging from philosophical reflections to how to realize the Dao in everyday practice.

— Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
The end of legal slavery in New York should not be an obscure historical fact.

— Tunisia Morrison, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

In fact, the iconic band of hazy light known as the galactic center should routinely be visible for a few more months across the United States – and the rest of the northern hemisphere – arcing across the night sky.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Go for the bold, unique brews, like the Blizzard of ’67 (named after an infamous winter storm), a hazy triple IPA with orange, pineapple, and mango notes.

— Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 1 July 2026

Definition of hazy

Adjective

As its name suggests, the product is formulated with skin care superstar retinol to smooth fine lines and crow’s feet and brighten dark circles.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
El Floridita and Sloppy Joe’s, tourist destinations made famous by American novelist Ernest Hemingway, sat dark and shuttered.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of dark

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“Nebulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nebulous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of nebulous

adjective

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