indistinct

I1N1D2I1S1T1I1N1C3T1
/ˌɪndɪsˈtɪŋkt/

adjective

not clearly defined or not having a sharp outline; faint or dim

“indistinct sign”

Similar
fuzzyill-definedambiguousequivocalgenericgrayimperspicuousimprecise
Opposite
distinctcleardefinedsharptransparent
OriginMiddle French indistinct ← Latin indistinctus →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

adjectiveindistinct (comparative more indistinct, superlative most indistinct)

comparative more indistinct · superlative most indistinct

  1. not clearly defined or not having a sharp outline; faint or dim

    indistinct sign

    Synonyms: fuzzy, ill-defined

  2. idea etchazy or vague

    Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal, ambiguous, equivocal, fuzzy, generic, gray, imperspicuous

  3. difficult to understand through being muffled or slurred

    indistinct sound

    4 more examples

    indistinct consonant sound

    indistinct murmur

    indistinct rustling

    indistinct whisper

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivenot clearly defined or not having a sharp outline; faint or dim

Similar
fuzzyill-defined

adjectivehazy or vague

Similar
ambiguousequivocalambiguousequivocalfuzzygenericgrayimperspicuousimpreciseindeterminateindefinitemurkynebulousturbiduncertainunclearundefinedundefinablevague
Similar
dimdistanthazyill-markedindistinguishablemuzzyobscure
Opposite
distinctcleardefinedsharptransparentwell-definedwell-marked
Narrower
darkshadowyfaintcloudynebulousturbidblurredblurrysmudgedout of focusunfocusedhazed

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand

Similar
bedimmedblearyblurredblurrycloudynebulosenebulousdimfaintshadowy
Opposite
distinct
Also see
ambiguousbeigeblearyblurredblurrycloudydimfaintfoggyfuzzygrayhazymuzzynebulosenebulousshadowysubtleunfocusedvagueveiledwispy

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinindistinctus
  2. Middle Frenchindistinct
  3. Englishindistinct

From Middle French indistinct, from Latin indistinctus. English equivalent in- + distinct.

More words from Middle French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀσαφής
  • ἀσαφής (asaphḗs)not clearly defined
Bulgarian неясен, смътен
  • неясен (nejasen)not clearly defined
  • смътен (smăten)not clearly defined
  • неясен (nejasen)difficult to understand (of speech)
Catalan indistint
  • indistintnot clearly defined
Chinese Mandarin 模糊, 朦朧 /朦胧
  • 模糊not clearly defined
  • 朦朧 /朦胧 (ménglóng)not clearly defined
Czech nezřetelný
  • nezřetelnýnot clearly defined
Greek δυσδιάκριτος, αμυδρός
  • δυσδιάκριτος (dysdiákritos)not clearly defined
  • αμυδρός (amydrós)not clearly defined
  • δυσδιάκριτος (dysdiákritos)difficult to understand (of speech)
Latin indistinctus
  • indistinctusnot clearly defined
Māori mōnehunehu, whekowheko
  • mōnehunehunot clearly defined
  • whekowhekonot clearly defined
  • ākahukahunot clearly defined
  • makaronot clearly defined
  • whakanawenawenot clearly defined
  • mōnenehunot clearly defined
  • tōrikinot clearly defined
  • tōririkinot clearly defined
  • tōrikirikinot clearly defined
  • māreareadifficult to understand (of speech)
  • ngaudifficult to understand (of speech)
Polish niewyraźny
  • niewyraźnynot clearly defined
Portuguese indistinto
  • indistintonot clearly defined
Spanish indistinto
  • indistintonot clearly defined
Swedish diffus, oklar
  • diffusnot clearly defined
  • oklardifficult to understand (of speech)
  • vagdifficult to understand (of speech)
Thai พร่า, คลุมเครือ
  • พร่า (prâa)not clearly defined
  • คลุมเครือ (klum-klʉʉa)not clearly defined
  • พร่า (prâa)difficult to understand (of speech)
Cite this entry
APA

indistinct. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indistinct

MLA

“indistinct.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indistinct. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indistinct,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indistinct.

Source: indistinct on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.