Membean is an incredibly effective way to learn words and permanently remember them.
Learn more on how we help for
Test Prep,
Personal Learning,
or get it for your
School.
Something that is amorphous has no clear shape, boundaries, or structure.
A state of anarchy occurs when there is no organization or order in a nation or country, especially when no effective government exists.
If something is an anomaly, it is different from what is usual or expected; hence, it is highly noticeable.
When you describe someone as astute, you think they quickly understand situations or behavior and use it to their advantage.
If one’s powers or rights are circumscribed, they are limited or restricted.
A clarion call is a stirring, emotional, and strong appeal to people to take action on something.
The word corporeal refers to the physical or material world rather than the spiritual; it also means characteristic of the body rather than the mind or feelings.
If you delineate something, such as an idea or situation or border, you describe it in great detail.
A diaphanous cloth is thin enough to see through.
If you elucidate something, you make it easier to understand by giving more relevant information.
An entity is a separate thing or object that possesses reality or exists, such as a fish, a tree, a rock, or a water molecule.
Exegesis is a detailed explanation or interpretation of a piece of writing, especially a religious one.
A generic description or attribute is not specific to any one thing but applies to all members of an entire class or group.
A gossamer material is very thin, light, and delicate.
An illustrative example serves to explain or describe something, often by providing pictures.
If an idea, plan, or attitude is inchoate, it is vague and imperfectly formed because it is just starting to develop.
Someone who is speaking in an incoherent fashion cannot be understood or is very hard to understand.
If the results of something are inconclusive, they are uncertain or provide no final answers.
When a piece of information is indeterminate, it cannot be known with certainty.
An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from available data using reason.
Someone who is irresolute is unable to decide what to do.
If someone is lucid, they are able to understand things and think clearly; this adjective is especially used when someone was not always able to do this because of illness or confusion.
A mercurial person’s mind or mood changes often, quickly, and unpredictably.
An organization or system that is a monolith is extremely large; additionally, it is unwilling or very slow to change or adopt something new.
Something is nondescript when its appearance is ordinary, dull, and not at all interesting or attractive.
If someone is objective, they base their opinions on facts rather than personal feelings or beliefs.
An oblique statement is not straightforward or direct; rather, it is purposely roundabout, vague, or misleading.
Something is opaque if it is either difficult to understand or is not transparent.
Something that is pellucid is either extremely clear because it is transparent to the eye or it is very easy for the mind to understand.
Someone who demonstrates perspicacity notices or understands things very quickly.
A revelation is the disclosure of once-secret information that is often surprising or valuable.
A rubric is a set of instructions at the beginning of a document, such as an examination or term paper, that is usually printed in a different style so as to highlight its importance.
A sagacious person is wise, intelligent, and has the ability to make good practical decisions.
Sporadic occurrences happen from time to time but not at constant or regular intervals.
Something tenuous is thin, weak, and unconvincing.
Something that is turbid, such as water, is muddy or cloudy because it has lots of small pieces of matter or dirt in it.
Something that is vacuous is empty or blank, such as a mind or stare.
Something that is vaporous is not completely formed but foggy and misty; in the same vein, a vaporous idea is insubstantial and vague.
A vivid picture is brightly colored, intense, and/or lifelike.
Something that is volatile can change easily and vary widely.
Adj.
nebulous
NEB-yuh-luhs
Context
We have a new boss, whose unclear, nebulous title of “Vice President of Management Affairs” tells little about what he actually does. One theory is that he is the nephew of our CEO, and was given this job with scattered, unlisted, and nebulous duties so that he can sound important while not doing anything demanding. When he asks what we’re doing at the office, we give him vague, indefinite, nebulous answers designed to stop further questions.
Quiz:Try again!
If your teacher provided a nebulous response to your question, how would you feel?
Confused because they did not give you a clear answer.
Insulted because they gave such a simple and basic answer.
Interested because they provided new and fascinating information.
Bolus Know-How So just how am I supposed to get that bolus down that fire-breathing bull's throat again? I think that you are being a bit too nebulous about the details of the procedure--why don't you do it yourself? Note: a "bolus" is a large pill.
Examples
Sammy Sosa: He raised suspicion by bulking up, boosting his home run production and then giving nebulous testimony before Congress in 2005.
—
USA Today
This is the case because being genuinely religious is so difficult — for one thing, it requires that we avoid the twin pitfalls of vague and nebulous 'spirituality' on the one hand, and rigid, unthinking 'dogma' on the other.
—
Newsvine
The Lions are not really high enough in the draft to go for a franchise quarterback, especially since that overworked term is meaningless, referring to this nebulous position.
—
Sports Illustrated
Responsible development is critical, but ignoring the need for this technology in the face of nebulous and poorly defined fears would be truly hazardous.
—
Los Angeles Times
Something nebulous “possesses the nature of mist or a cloud.”
Word Theater
Deconstructing Henry Henry's physical appearance is becoming somewhat nebulous.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
