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View synonyms for ambiguous

ambiguous

[ am-big-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

  1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal:

    an ambiguous answer.

    Antonyms: explicit

  2. Linguistics. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.
  3. of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify:

    a rock of ambiguous character.

    Synonyms: anomalous, problematic, indeterminate, vague, dubious

    Antonyms: certain

  4. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous future.

    an ambiguous shape;

    an ambiguous future.

    Synonyms: enigmatic, puzzling

    Antonyms: unambiguous, precise, clear



ambiguous

/ æmˈbɪɡjʊəs /

adjective

  1. having more than one possible interpretation or meaning
  2. difficult to understand or classify; obscure
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • amˈbiguousness, noun
  • amˈbiguously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • am·bigu·ous·ly adverb
  • am·bigu·ous·ness noun
  • unam·bigu·ous adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous1

First recorded in 1480–1500; from Latin ambiguus, equivalent to ambig(ere) “to dispute, contend; be undecided, doubt” (from ambi- prefix meaning “both, around” + -igere combining form of agere “to drive, lead, act”) + -uus adjective suffix; ambi-; -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous1

C16: from Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from ambi- + agere to lead, act
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Synonym Study

ambiguous, equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic describe conditions or statements not clear in meaning. ambiguous can refer to a statement, act, or attitude that is capable of two or more often contradictory interpretations, usually accidentally or unintentionally so: an ambiguous passage in the preamble. equivocal, usually applied to spoken as well as written language, also means susceptible of two or more interpretations, and it usually suggests a deliberate intent to mislead by avoiding clarity: saving face with an equivocal response to an embarrassing question. cryptic usually refers to intentional obscurity, especially in language, and often implies a private or hidden meaning but stresses resultant mystification or puzzlement: a cryptic remark that left us struggling to interpret his intention. enigmatic focuses on perplexity resulting from a mysterious or imponderable event or utterance, often one of great importance or deep significance: prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries.
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Example Sentences

But what is it like to be the embodiment of that, as an ethnically ambiguous individual?

We can only speculate as to the intentions behind these ambiguous words.

Even the Biblical roots of gender are more ambiguous than people think.

The writer has followed a rule but compromised clarity; whether the vote or the approval was immediate is ambiguous.

“The subject area in question is subjective and ambiguous,” he wrote.

Some few of them however (perhaps from my want of Judgment) seem so ambiguous, as to want a little Explanation.

In some cases proper evidence may be used to identify things where the description in the will is ambiguous.

It was a claiming touch, and there was something in the unfolded sweetness of her face that was not ambiguous.

I am not without resources; but his civil ambiguous silence, by feeding my hopes, has encreased my difficulties.

To think of a chap writing such a veiled, ambiguous, absolutely botched sentence, and cooking up such a mess!

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