Nebulous - IELTS Word of the Day for Speaking & Writing
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Articulate vagueness and uncertainty easily with the word ‘Nebulous’, and sharpen your skills for the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections for a band 8+. Boost your confidence by using advanced vocabulary words and crafting nuanced responses.
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Are you lost or in a cloud of uncertainty? This feeling can be captured with the word "Nebulous". Remember that a word provides you with an opportunity to score higher on the parameter of lexical range. However, you need to understand how to use the word accurately before you leverage it on the exam day .
This term lets you express the idea of 'unclear' in an advanced way, while adding depth to your answers. Mastering such usage is a skill examiners value, , especially in the IELTS Exam for Speaking & Writing sections.
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What is the Meaning of the Word ‘Nebulous’?
Vocabulary usage is pretty significant in Speaking & Writing given that you will get assessed on lexical resources. To use the word effectively, check the meaning, synonyms, and examples for ‘Nebulous’ so that you can apply it to your answers.
Topic |
Description |
Nebulous |
Adjective |
Definition |
|
Synonyms |
Unclear, Indistinctive |
Collocations |
|
Origin |
Nebulous first appears in late Middle English, and it comes from the French word nébuleux, which in turn originates from the Latin word nebulosus(which comes from the word nebula – mist), meaning “misty”. It originally meant “cloudy”, and the second meaning of the word started being used in the early 19th century. |
Examples |
I saw a giant nebulous glow in the sky while driving back from Stevie’s party. Do you think it could’ve been a UFO? I have a nebulous idea for a comedy sketch. Let’s meet on Sunday to discuss it. We must do away with nebulous concepts like employee happiness and focus on something more concrete to measure satisfaction.
The concept of complete independence began as a nebulous idea after the first revolution. A lot of philosophical concepts are too nebulous for anyone to understand. Writing is a fantastic way of transforming an individuals’ nebulous thoughts into something someone can relate to. |
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List of Topics to Use Nebulous in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers
Before starting to use the word, it is vital to understand in which topics you can fit this word. With practice, you can showcase your proficiency level in both the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections.
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Describing Vague Memories or Ideas
The word would show an advanced mannerism in referring to unclear recollections instead of fairly putting words to the phrase, "I don't remember well."
My memory of that summer holiday is quite nebulous now, but I do recall spending time by the beach. |
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Talking About Future Plans
Focus on making a thoughtful tone and also on the uncertainty of the events.
I have a nebulous plan to study abroad, but I haven't decided on the university or course yet. |
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Describing Policies or Government Actions
When you are attempting to describe something in an academic setting where questioning the clarity of governance is looked at, use this word.
Many government policies remain nebulous, making it difficult for citizens to understand their implications. |
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Social Issues
This will allow you to add depth to your arguments and create clarity.
The claim that social media improves mental health is often based on nebulous assumptions without scientific evidence |
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Discussing Abstract Concept
Adding the term would be useful while discussing subjective or philosophical topics, especially for the Writing section.
Absolute freedom can be nebulous, as different people attribute different interpretations to it |
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Job or Career Goals
This would help in presenting the idea in a logical way as you can move from vagueness to clarity.
When I was growing up, career goals were quite nebulous for me, but with time, I have become more focused. |
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Research or Statistics
This would showcase your data analysis skill and elevate your critical thinking.
The report presented nebulous statistics which rendered the inferences less credible. |
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Exercise on Nebulous for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Now, it’s time to practice. The following exercise will help you to practise incorporating the word ’Nebulous’ in sentences. With this, you will understand when it can be used in a better way. Read each sentence carefully, analyse the context, and figure out where the word would be most effective.
Match the sentence with the correct meaning of the word ‘Nebulous’
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1 The politician's promises were so odd that really nobody could grasp what his plan was.
2 My summer childhood memories are nebulous; I do, however, remember the laughter.
3 It remains nebulous what our future marketing strategy will be without adequate data to work with.
4 Students took the art project instructions quite differently and completely: the instructions were nebulous.
5 Early theories of the origin of the Universe were nebulous: more speculative than evidence-based.
6 His recollection was nebulous; he remembered the general subject but the details escaped him.
Answer to the Exercise on Nebulous for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Let’s check out the answer to the exercise. Always remember that every step in itself is a progress. Remember to review the solutions so that you can use the tricks to answer the IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks with confidence.
- b)
- f)
- a)
- d)
- e)
- c)
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Mastering the use of the word ‘nebulous’ in your Speaking & IELTS Writing answers will help you describe any concept, plan, or memory that is intentionally hazy or uncertain. This will help to practise using it in academic essays and in conversation. With the understanding of variety in contexts in which you apply the word, you will learn how to fit it into your answer, helping you to increase your band score.
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