Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Not clearly or sharply delineated.
  • adjective Faint; dim.
  • adjective Hazy; vague.
  • adjective Difficult to understand or make out.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not distinct to the senses; not clearly distinguishable or perceptible; not to be discriminated; confused; blurred; obscure: as, indistinct outlines; an indistinct sound.
  • Not distinct to the mind; not clearly defined as to parts or details; indefinite; confused: as, indistinct notions. See clear, 6.
  • Not giving or having distinct impressions, images, or perceptions; dim; dull; imperfect: as, indistinct vision; an indistinct remembrance.
  • Synonyms Undefined, indistinguishable, dim, vague, uncertain, ambiguous.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not distinct or distinguishable; not separate in such a manner as to be perceptible by itself.
  • adjective Obscure to the mind or senses; not clear; not definite; confused; imperfect; faint

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of an image, etc. not clearly defined or not having a sharp outline; faint or dim
  • adjective of a thought, idea etc hazy or vague
  • adjective of speech difficult to understand

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word indistinct.

Examples

  • Carey wants to have it both ways: it is because literature can "communicate" more effectively and it can also remain "indistinct" in the manner common to all the arts that it is ultimately the most valuable of the arts.

    The State of Criticism 2008

  • In addition, there are approximately three million Burakumin “hamlet people”, who are culturally, ethnically, and religiously indistinct from the Japanese—and yet the Japanese consider them a separate group and discriminate against them.

    ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

  • In addition, there are approximately three million Burakumin “hamlet people”, who are culturally, ethnically, and religiously indistinct from the Japanese—and yet the Japanese consider them a separate group and discriminate against them.

    ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

  • In addition, there are approximately three million Burakumin “hamlet people”, who are culturally, ethnically, and religiously indistinct from the Japanese—and yet the Japanese consider them a separate group and discriminate against them.

    ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

  • Unlike the distinct representation of a triangle whereby the intellect distinguishes parts and aspects of the triangle from one another, a sensuous representation is clear but indistinct, that is to say, to have a sensuous representation is to perceive something without intellectually distinguishing its parts or aspects.

    Moses Mendelssohn Dahlstrom, Daniel 2006

  • Time, also, makes greater demands on our [word indistinct].

    Cuba: Castro Speaks at Santa Clara Rally 1996

  • [Castro] They mean a lot of things, 100,000 times what they could mean [word indistinct].

    Cuba: Castro Speaks at Pioneers' Palace Reopening 1996

  • You all know that in places where trees are cut down and burned, a [word indistinct] grows that was known during the war as [word indistinct].

    Cuba: Fidel Castro Address on ANAP Anniversary 1996

  • No. These are the most difficult Olympic Games in which we will participate, not only because we are going to compete in sports -- they will be difficult sports-wise -- but because of the conditions and the country where those Olympic Games are going to be held, under [word indistinct] conditions against our country and our delegation.

    Cuba: Castro Blames U.S. for Defections 1996

  • It is with this spirit that we want you to struggle, all of you, in these Olympic Games that will be so difficult, which will take place in the heart of the Empire that [word indistinct] us, in the heart of the monster.

    Cuba: Castro Blames U.S. for Defections 1996

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.