When trying to describe something that is difficult to discern or identify, there are a variety of synonyms for the phrase "hard to make out." For example, you might say that something is indistinct, vague, or blurry. If the thing in question is audial in nature, you could describe it as being faint or muffled. Other options include elusive, ambiguous, obscured, or enigmatic. When struggling to identify a person or thing in particular, you might also use phrases such as "difficult to recognize," "hard to place," or "challenging to pinpoint." Regardless of which synonym you choose, the key is to convey the sense of uncertainty or confusion you feel when attempting to make out the object.