vagueness

/ˈveɪɡnəs/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈeɡnɪs] /ˈveɪɡnəs/ (ame, ipa)

vagueness — 名詞

1. the state or quality of being uncertain or not clearly expressed — for example,

1.名詞B2
釋義

模糊；含糊

表達或資訊不清楚的狀態

the state or quality of being uncertain or not clearly expressed — for example, when an answer, instruction, or description is too general for you to understand exactly what is meant.

例句

Nora was frustrated by the vagueness of the hotel's cancellation policy.

Nora 對旅館取消政策的模糊說明感到沮喪。

uncountable: the vagueness of [noun phrase]

The vagueness of the job ad made it hard to know what skills were needed.

那則求職廣告內容模糊，很難知道需要具備哪些技能。

同義詞
  • ambiguity

    vagueness is broader; ambiguity specifically means something could be understood in more than one way

  • imprecision

    vagueness focuses on lack of detail; imprecision suggests numbers or measurements are not exact

  • unclearness

    more general and less common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • clarity

    the opposite of vagueness — information that is perfectly understood

  • precision

    clarity through exact numbers, dates, or specific wording

文法句型

the vagueness of [something]

vagueness in [something]

用法筆記

Typically describes written or spoken information — instructions, rules, policies, definitions. Not used for physical objects or shapes (see sense 3).

常見錯誤

❌The vagueness of my memory makes it hard to remember.
✅The vagueness of the instructions made it hard to follow.
💡vagueness is about unclear information, not about a person's memory (use 'fuzziness' or 'dimness' for memory).
❌There is a vagueness about his eyes.
✅There is vagueness in the wording of his answer.
💡vagueness describes statements or information, not a person's physical features.

2. behaviour or speech that makes you think someone does not really know what they

2.名詞B2
釋義

含糊其辭

不願或不確定而含糊回答的行為

behaviour or speech that makes you think someone does not really know what they are talking about, is not paying attention, or is avoiding a direct answer on purpose.

例句

Bilal's vagueness about the deadline made his team worry he had not started the work.

Bilal 對截止日期含糊其辭，讓團隊擔心他根本還沒開始工作。

vagueness about [topic / issue]

When asked about the missing money, the manager's vagueness only increased everyone's distrust.

當被問到那筆不見的錢時，經理含糊其辭的態度只讓大家更加不信任他。

同義詞
  • evasiveness

    stronger than vagueness — suggests an intentional attempt to hide the truth

  • equivocation

    formal; using language that has multiple meanings on purpose to avoid committing to one

  • indirectness

    vagueness through not saying things directly; vagueness can also be accidental

反義詞
  • directness

    saying exactly what you mean without hiding anything

  • frankness

    honest and open behaviour in speech

文法句型

[someone's] vagueness about [something]

vagueness in [doing something]

用法筆記

Frequently followed by 'about' + topic ('vagueness about the details'). Often carries a negative tone — suggests the person is either unprepared or being deliberately unclear.

常見錯誤

❌His vagueness to answer the question was frustrating.
✅His vagueness in answering the question was frustrating.
💡vagueness takes 'in/about' + gerund, not 'to' + infinitive.
❌She showed vagueness on purpose.
✅Her vagueness was deliberate.
💡more natural to say 'her vagueness was [adjective]' or 'she answered with vagueness'.

3. the quality of being difficult to see clearly because the edges, outlines, or de

3.名詞B2
釋義

模糊不清

形狀或輪廓不清楚的狀態

the quality of being difficult to see clearly because the edges, outlines, or details are not sharp — for example, when something is far away, in fog, or in dim light.

例句

In the fog, the vagueness of the figure made it hard to tell a person from a tree.

在霧中，那個身影模糊不清，很難分辨是人還是樹。

vagueness of [something visible and unclear]

The vagueness of the old photo made it hard for Nia to see her grandmother's face.

那張老照片模糊不清，Nia 很難看清楚祖母的臉。

同義詞
  • indistinctness

    very close in meaning; vagueness is more common in everyday speech

  • blurriness

    suggests something is out of focus, like a photograph or vision

  • fuzziness

    informal; describes edges that are not clean or sharp

反義詞
  • sharpness

    clear edges and outlines that are easy to see

  • clarity

    the quality of being perfectly visible with clear details

文法句型

the vagueness of [something visible]

用法筆記

Describes physical sight and visual perception — contrast with senses 1 and 2, which describe information and speech. Often used in descriptions of weather, distance, light, or artistic style.

常見錯誤

❌I could see a vagueness shape.
✅I could see a shape, but its vagueness made it hard to identify.
💡vagueness is a noun, not an adjective. The adjective form is 'vague'.
❌The vagueness of his writing is hard to read.' (for unclear handwriting)
✅Use 'illegibility' for handwriting that cannot be read, or use sense 1 of vagueness if the meaning is unclear.