as nebulous as the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as nebulous as the" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is vague or unclear, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The concept of time can be as nebulous as the boundaries between dreams and reality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Let's leave something as nebulous as the truth to the great mystic poet Jalaluddin Rumi — born 800 years ago in the land of those dancing girls — a man who knew the value of a veil and the real nature of the longing behind all that mind-bending harem sex: If you want what visible reality can give, you're an employee.

The New York Times - Books

In one recent film, Parnassius Mnemosyne, an homage of sorts to butterfly expert Vladamir Nabakov's memoir, Speak, Memory, a magnified film of a butterfly wing looks more like jellyfish swimming in the ocean or brainwaves pulsing than a stable form: what we see and remember is as nebulous as the wing's shifting forms.

The Guardian - Arts

Statistics can be misleading - and never more so than when trying to assess a concept as nebulous as the greatest F1 drivers across many very different eras.

BBC

Trump's alliance with the alt-right crowd is as nebulous as the movement itself.

Los Angeles Times

But it's difficult to truly attack something as nebulous as the Isha Foundation.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"To die for something as nebulous as that is stupidity," he said, quoting his and Ethel's mother.

The New York Times - Books

The test is as nebulous as "hard-working families', the cliche adored by politicians: there will be as many flavours of "family friendly" as there are ministers in government.

The Guardian - Opinion

But on the whole, the participants are in no danger of anything worse than jet lag or an overdose of caffeine.We are all familiar with people who die for their belief in this or that religion, but can something as nebulous as inter-faith dialogue inspire the supreme sacrifice?

The Economist

The world of cosplay -- "costume play," for the uninitiated -- is as nebulous as it is distinct.

Huffington Post

The phrase is always uttered with extreme adoration, yet the very concept seems as nebulous as it is elusive.

Huffington Post

Measuring the make-up of songs may feel like a clinical way to quantify something as nebulous as influence, but we'll leave that debate to naysayers in the comments section.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as nebulous as the", ensure the comparison is clear and easily understood by your audience. The 'the' should be followed by a noun that is generally considered vague or unclear. For example, "as nebulous as the concept of time".

Common error

Avoid using "as nebulous as the" with concrete nouns or concepts that have a clear definition. This creates a nonsensical comparison and weakens your writing. For example, saying "as nebulous as the sky" is incorrect because the sky, while vast, is a defined entity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as nebulous as the" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something by comparing its lack of clarity or definition to something else known to be equally or similarly vague. This phrase adds emphasis to the ambiguous nature of the subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as nebulous as the" is a comparative adjective phrase used to describe something lacking clarity or definition by comparing it to something else known for its vagueness. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is grammatically correct. While relatively rare, it is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and the noun following "the" is indeed something commonly understood as vague. Alternatives include phrases like "as vague as the" or "as unclear as the".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as vague as the

Replaces "nebulous" with a synonym, slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

as unclear as the

Substitutes "nebulous" with another synonym, emphasizing the lack of clarity.

as ill-defined as the

Replaces "nebulous" with a more formal synonym, making the phrase slightly more academic.

as hazy as the

Uses a different metaphor to convey a similar sense of vagueness.

as indefinite as the

Employs a more technical term to describe the lack of defined boundaries.

as ambiguous as the

Focuses on the potential for multiple interpretations, rather than simply a lack of clarity.

as blurred as the

Employs a visual metaphor to express a lack of distinctness.

as ethereal as the

Uses a more poetic term to suggest a sense of being intangible and difficult to grasp.

as amorphous as the

Emphasizes the lack of a fixed shape or form.

as indistinct as the

Highlights the difficulty in perceiving or discerning something clearly.

FAQs

How can I use "as nebulous as the" in a sentence?

You can use "as nebulous as the" to describe something vague or unclear by comparing it to another concept known for its ambiguity. For example, "The details of the agreement were "as nebulous as the" future".

What words are similar to "as nebulous as the"?

Synonyms for "as nebulous as the" include phrases like "as vague as the", "as unclear as the", or "as ill-defined as the".

Is it better to use "nebulous" or "vague"?

"Nebulous" and "vague" are similar, but "nebulous" suggests something is cloud-like or lacking distinct form, while "vague" implies a lack of clarity or precision. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. An example using the word vague is, "The instructions were "as vague as the" directions given by a stranger".

What part of speech is "nebulous"?

"Nebulous" is an adjective, meaning indistinct, vague, or ill-defined. As in, "The plan was "as nebulous as the" morning fog".