1.not clearly expressed or perceived
2.not clearly understood or sensed
3.not clearly identified; indistinct
how do we use it?
1. i haven't the vaguest idea what you me.
2. the terms of the agreement were deliberately vague.
3. i could see the vague outline of the ship in such a foggy day.
word quiz
we want to express ourselves clearly about this: there are several synonyms for "vague." can you pick one out from the list below?
a. reliable
b. infinite
c. obscure
d. unruly
key
[c]
answer c, "obscure," as well as "enigmatic," "ambiguous," and "cryptic" all mean "not clearly understandable" and so are synonyms of "vague." use "vague" to suggest a lack of clear definition, as in "a vague sense of familiarity." choose "obscure" to imply a meaning that is hidden through lack or withholding of information, as in "an obscure poem that no one understood." try "enigmatic" when you want to stress a puzzling or mysterious quality, as in "an enigmatic smile." pick "ambiguous" to indicate language that can be interpreted in more than one way, as in "an ambiguous explanation." use "cryptic" to imply a purposely hidden meaning, as in "cryptic hints about a hidden treasure."
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