vague
19 synonyms and 10 antonyms for vague, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use vague
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin vagus, meaning "wandering, uncertain" — the same root that gives us "vagrant" and "vagabond."
Full origin of vague →Frequently asked questions
What does “vague” mean?
The word “vague” means not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail. In plain terms, unclear or lacking specific detail — something you can't quite pin down.
How do you pronounce “vague”?
“Vague” is pronounced vayg (/veɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “vague” in a sentence?
Here is “vague” used in a sentence: “His directions were so vague that we got lost twice.”
What is another word for “vague”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vague” include ambiguous, equivocal, fuzzy, generic, gray and imperspicuous.
What is the opposite of “vague”?
The opposite of “vague” — its antonyms — are certain, definable, clear, defined and determinate.
What part of speech is “vague”?
“Vague” is an adjective.
Where does the word “vague” come from?
The word “vague” comes from Latin. From Latin vagus, meaning "wandering, uncertain" — the same root that gives us "vagrant" and "vagabond.".
Is “vague” a common word?
“Vague” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "vague" and "ambiguous"?
"Vague" means lacking precise detail or not clearly defined, so it gives too little information to be clear. "Ambiguous" means open to more than one interpretation, so it gives information that could be read in different ways; something vague is unclear, while something ambiguous is confusingly double-meaning.
What is the difference between "vague" and "obscure"?
"Vague" means not clearly expressed or defined and lacking detail, while "obscure" means hard to understand or not well known. A vague statement is fuzzy and imprecise, whereas an obscure one may be precise but difficult or unfamiliar.
What nouns commonly follow "vague"?
"Vague" often describes idea, notion, feeling, sense, memory, and answer, as in "a vague memory" or "a vague sense of unease." These pairings reflect its meaning of something indistinct or not clearly felt or remembered.