Shapeless describes something that has no clear or definite form. A shapeless blob of clay sits on the table waiting for a sculptor to mold it into something recognizable. An old, worn-out sweater might become shapeless after years of washing, losing the crisp outline it once had and hanging loosely without structure.

The word often suggests something that should have a shape but doesn't. A shapeless cloud drifts across the sky without looking like anything in particular, while other clouds might clearly resemble animals or objects. When someone wears a shapeless coat, it hangs like a sack instead of fitting their body.

Shapeless can also describe ideas or plans that haven't taken form yet. A shapeless fear is one you can't quite identify or explain, just an uneasy feeling without clear boundaries. A writer might start with shapeless thoughts that gradually become organized into a story. The opposite of shapeless would be well-defined, structured, or clearly formed.