indistinctly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indistinctly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is not clear or is difficult to perceive or understand. Example: "The voice on the other end of the line spoke indistinctly, making it hard for me to catch every word."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Tellingly, Gypsies were not mentioned at Nuremberg.No matter that mainstream society sees Gypsies as a whole; Gypsies see themselves indistinctly, if at all.

The Economist

He considered species to be indistinctly defined, a view that conflicted with the doctrine of catastrophism held by many of his contemporaries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But it seems both more challenging to me as a writer and more rewarding for the reader if such descriptions present the sex act, as it were, indistinctly, through a plate of opaque glass rather than exaggerated under a magnifying glass.

Independent

His plaster casts from live models, usually left white and indistinctly featured, are often situated in mundane settings of actual furniture or other objects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Furtwängler relied on degrees of vagueness, especially in Strauss, where he regularly allowed the edges of a chord to bleed, and let the waves of fast fiddle notes gurgle indistinctly.

The New Yorker

Not yet overtly present in the mainstream of political thought and political action, they were indistinctly present as an atmosphere, and as the framework within which the events of the Nixon years would turn.

The New Yorker

Showily enigmatic, "The Studio of the Painter" affected its immediate audiences with inchoate excitements — vaguely political, indistinctly visionary, unfathomably ironic — somewhat like those which attended the early hits of Bob Dylan in another epoch that violently revamped public roles and values in the arts.

The New Yorker

Everybody is admiring the paintings on the walls and murmuring indistinctly.

The New Yorker

His voice, heard indistinctly over the roar of today's machinery of investigation, is a sound worth storing up in the ear.

The New Yorker

He spoke hurriedly and indistinctly, and although his English is fluent, I had trouble following him.

The New Yorker

The heavily hyped appearance of Harper Lee's new or very old, or, anyway, indistinctly dated, novel, "Go Set a Watchman" (HarperCollins), reflects an ambitious publishing venture — complete with slow, striptease-style press leaks and first chapters and excited pre-publication surmise — in which all the other apparatus of literature, reviewers included, is expected to serve, and has.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indistinctly" to describe sensory experiences that lack clarity, such as sounds, sights, or speech. For example, "The music played indistinctly from the next room."

Common error

Avoid confusing "indistinctly" with "distinctly". "Indistinctly" means lacking clarity, while "distinctly" means clearly and noticeably. Using the wrong word can completely change the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indistinctly" is to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed or a quality is exhibited. Ludwig AI highlights that it is used to describe something lacking clarity or precision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "indistinctly" is used to describe something that lacks clarity or is difficult to perceive. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its application in describing unclear sounds, sights, and expressions. Predominantly found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, "indistinctly" carries a neutral tone suitable for various contexts. Alternatives include "vaguely", "faintly", and "unclearly", each offering slight nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclearly

Directly implies a lack of clarity, closely mirroring the meaning of "indistinctly" in many contexts.

vaguely

Refers to a lack of clear definition or detail, similar to "indistinctly" but often implies a broader lack of precision.

faintly

Indicates a low level of intensity or clarity, often used for sounds or visual perceptions, similar to one aspect of "indistinctly".

dimly

Primarily refers to a lack of brightness, but can also describe a lack of clarity in perception, overlapping with "indistinctly".

muffledly

Specifically suggests a suppressed or unclear sound, a narrower application compared to "indistinctly".

blurrily

Conveys a lack of sharp focus or definition, often used for visual impressions, similar to "indistinctly" in describing unclear perceptions.

hazily

Implies a lack of clarity due to a haze or obscurity, sharing the sense of unclear perception with "indistinctly".

inarticulately

Focuses on the lack of clear expression in speech, a specific application of the broader concept of "indistinctly".

indeterminately

Indicates a lack of precise definition or limits, relating to the aspect of "indistinctly" that involves a lack of clear boundaries.

opaquely

Suggests a lack of transparency or clarity, often used metaphorically to describe something difficult to understand, overlapping with the broader meaning of "indistinctly".

FAQs

How can I use "indistinctly" in a sentence?

You can use "indistinctly" to describe something that is not clear or well-defined. For instance, "I could hear voices speaking "unclearly" in the distance" or "The details in the photograph were visible "vaguely".

What's the difference between "indistinctly" and "unclearly"?

"Indistinctly" generally refers to a lack of clarity in sensory perception, while "unclearly" can refer to a lack of clarity in communication or understanding. However, they are often interchangeable.

What are some synonyms for "indistinctly"?

Some synonyms for "indistinctly" include "faintly", "vaguely", "dimly", and "muffledly". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "indistinctly" in formal writing?

Yes, "indistinctly" is a perfectly acceptable word to use in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English. It is often found in news articles, encyclopedias, and other reputable sources.