GRE Words for Unclear and Vague

These 12 GRE words all share the meaning of unclear and vague. Studying them as one cluster is far more efficient than learning each in isolation, because the GRE tests words by how they relate to each other. Each entry below links to a full definition page with example sentences and memory hooks.

Why this cluster matters

On Sentence Equivalence you must choose two words that give the sentence the same meaning. That means the answer is almost always a synonym pair pulled from a cluster like this one. Watch the connotation tone on each word: a positive and a negative word rarely form a correct pair, even when their definitions look close.

The 12 words

abstruseadjectiveNegative tone

Difficult to understand; obscure

ambiguousadjectiveNegative tone

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear

arcaneadjectiveNeutral tone

Understood by few; mysterious or secret

equivocaladjectiveNegative tone

Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

esotericadjectiveNeutral tone

Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge

hazyadjectiveNegative tone

Vague, indistinct, or confused; lacking clarity

indeterminateadjectiveNeutral tone

Not exactly known, established, or defined; vague

murkyadjectiveNegative tone

Dark and gloomy; not clear or transparent; unclear

nebulousadjectiveNegative tone

In the form of a cloud; vague or ill-defined

obscureadjectiveNegative tone

Not discovered or known about; uncertain

opaqueadjectiveNegative tone

Not able to be seen through; not transparent; difficult to understand

reconditeadjectiveNeutral tone

Little known; abstruse; dealing with very profound, difficult, or specialized subject matter

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