vague feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

"vague feeling" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an emotion or sensation that is hard to identify or explain. For example, "She had a vague feeling of unease as she walked through the dark alley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Oh, and there's also the vague feeling that somebody, somewhere, got beheaded or tortured so you could feel interesting and tingly for a few minutes.

Vice

A vague feeling of disbelief grips me.

The Guardian - Travel

A vague feeling of a heterogeneous opposition to Johnson group.

The New Yorker

"But I refuse to live my life on the sidelines with a vague feeling of regret.

The Guardian

I start with a vague feeling and then I'll keep worrying it until the characters emerge.

The New Yorker

Distracted, playacting, and with a vague feeling of shame, Meriel said goodbye.

The New Yorker

She left no name with the attendants who revived her - only a vague feeling of apprehension.

The New Yorker

Any line or idea with even a vague feeling of familiarity or provenance had to be expunged.

The New Yorker

But, apart from a vague feeling that three mining stocks is one too many, I'm short of ideas.

The Guardian - Business

In those failures there was outright fraud, but here there is only a vague feeling that something went very wrong.

The New York Times

For them, love isn't a vague feeling beyond words but indeed a binding contract to which you both subscribe.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vague feeling" when you want to describe an emotion or sensation that is not clearly defined or easily understood. It's effective for conveying a sense of uncertainty or ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid relying on "vague feeling" excessively in formal or scientific writing where precise language is crucial. Instead, strive to identify and articulate the specific emotion or sensation as accurately as possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vague feeling" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an emotion or sensation that lacks clarity or definition. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from describing a general sense of unease to a more specific feeling of guilt.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vague feeling" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes an emotion or sensation lacking clarity or definition. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appropriate in various contexts, although its usage in formal writing might require careful consideration. It is most frequently found in news and media sources. When more precision is required, alternatives like "indistinct sensation" or "unclear emotion" can be used. The phrase serves to communicate a sense of uncertainty or ambiguity about an emotion, and its frequent appearance in diverse sources confirms its widespread acceptance. In short, while Ludwig confirms its correctness, writers should be mindful of the level of specificity needed for their particular context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Indistinct sensation

Focuses on the physical aspect, replacing "feeling" with "sensation" and "vague" with "indistinct".

Unclear emotion

Replaces "feeling" with "emotion", emphasizing the emotional aspect, while "unclear" substitutes "vague".

Fuzzy sensation

Uses "fuzzy" to convey the lack of clarity in the sensation, maintaining a similar meaning.

Nebulous sense

"Nebulous" indicates a lack of clear form, similar to "vague", while "sense" is a broader term than "feeling".

Hazy impression

Replaces "feeling" with "impression", shifting the nuance slightly to a mental perception, with "hazy" mirroring "vague".

Imprecise intuition

Substitutes "feeling" with "intuition", suggesting a gut feeling that lacks precision, with "imprecise" mirroring "vague".

Amorphous unease

"Amorphous" emphasizes the lack of clear shape or form, akin to "vague", while "unease" specifies a type of feeling.

Murky sentiment

"Murky" suggests a lack of clarity or transparency, similar to "vague", with "sentiment" being a synonym for feeling.

Blurred awareness

"Blurred" indicates a lack of sharp focus, mirroring "vague", with "awareness" broadening the scope beyond just feeling.

Shadowy premonition

Suggests a vague or unclear feeling about something that might happen in the future, replacing "feeling" with "premonition" and "vague" with "shadowy".

FAQs

How can I use "vague feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "vague feeling" to describe an emotion or sensation that is not clearly defined. For example, "She had a vague feeling that something was wrong".

What are some alternatives to "vague feeling"?

Alternatives include "indistinct sensation", "unclear emotion", or "fuzzy sensation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "vague feeling" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "vague feeling" might be too imprecise for formal writing. Consider using more specific terms to describe the emotion or sensation.

What's the difference between "vague feeling" and "strong feeling"?

"Vague feeling" suggests an emotion or sensation that is not clearly defined or understood, while "strong feeling" indicates a powerful and distinct emotion.