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cloudy

cloudy

10 3.5
A thought that is not clear or detailed
  • adjective
  • /ˈklaʊdi/
: vago
  • His explanation was too cloudy, making it hard for us to understand his ideas.
  • become cloudy

This was exactly what my sad cloudy soul needed.

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Examples

  • For some reason, my mental impressions are cloudy.

  • The potential applications for this cognitive computing research may still seem a bit cloudy.

    Academic text (2009)
  • My mind becomes more and more cloudy now.

  • While the boys are quite clear on their purpose, the girls tend to be a little cloudy on their goals.

  • But just what he would do was still a cloudy mystery.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • But now I don't know, everything just seems so cloudy.

  • My memory is cloudy.

  • I know personally, I feel grumpy, I feel cloudy, I'm irritable.

  • "Did I just hear you cough?" Ross shook his head, his eyes cloudy with unshed tears.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Their facets glowed with the ambience of the lanterns, producing a diffuse and cloudy light.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

vague
vscloudy
229 4.6

Not clear or detailed so you are unsure what is meant

is used mainly for ideas or situations rather than general things
unclear
vscloudy
212 3.9

Not easy to understand or know for sure

tends to mean no definite form or limits rather than mere difficulty
indistinct
vscloudy
154 5.3

Not easy to see, hear, or understand

focuses on vague limits and meanings rather than sensory blurriness
hazy
vscloudy
45 3.9

Not clear because of mist or when you cannot remember it well

is about unclear form or idea rather than temporary memory or visual blur
misty
vscloudy
30 1.4

Covered with thin cloud near the ground or not clear in memory

describes general vagueness of ideas not literal weather or mist effects
shadowy
vscloudy
20 5.3

Not a clear or certain idea and often hard to prove

is about unclear form or limits rather than lack of existence or substance
muddled
vscloudy
18 5.4

Confused and not in clear order so hard to understand

relates to unclear shape or limits rather than disordered or chaotic thinking
clouded
vscloudy
15 4.8

A face, mind, or explanation that is not clear because of worry

describes general vagueness not necessarily caused by worry or emotion
opaque
vscloudy
14 8.0

Hard to understand or follow

is less about impenetrability and more about lacking definite form or limits
foggy
vscloudy
12 1.4

Not clear or easy to remember

is about vague ideas or limits rather than an actual blur from weather
nebulous
vscloudy
11 7.9

Unclear and hard to picture or describe

is used more for general lack of clarity than physical shapelessness
woolly
vscloudy
2 7.0

Vague and unclear in thought or expression

is more about vague form and limits rather than internal confusion
vapory
vscloudy
  • Literature
8.8

Not clear or strong, with little real detail

focuses on vague limits and meaning rather than empty airy quality

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Easy to understand and not confusing

∞ 3.9

Clearly defined and exact for a particular thing or person

157 1.6

Clearly stated or decided and not vague

How Clear

clear
∞ 1.0
cloudy
10 3.5
vague
229 4.6
obscure
37 8.2

Surface Forms

cloudy positive

Morphology

cloudy = cloud (semi-transparent) = cloud + y

The abstract sense 'vague' or 'ill-defined' is an extended metaphor from literal cloudiness; the link is recognizable but less directly compositional for some learners.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the non-physical meaning of cloudy is to imagine a cloud hiding things; the word is cloud + -y, so it suggests being 'covered' by a cloud. So, cloudy means 'not clear' or vague when we talk about ideas or plans.