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View synonyms for ambiguity

ambiguity

[ am-bi-gyoo-i-tee ]

noun

, plural am·bi·gu·i·ties.
  1. doubtfulness or uncertainty of meaning or intention:

    to speak with ambiguity;

    an ambiguity of manner.

    Synonyms: deceptiveness, vagueness

    Antonyms: explicitness, clarity

  2. an unclear, indefinite, or equivocal word, expression, meaning, etc.:

    a contract free of ambiguities;

    the ambiguities of modern poetry.

    Synonyms: equivocation



ambiguity

/ ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the possibility of interpreting an expression in two or more distinct ways
  2. an instance of this, as in the sentence they are cooking apples
  3. vagueness or uncertainty of meaning

    there are several ambiguities in the situation



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Other Words From

  • nonam·bi·gui·ty noun plural nonambiguities

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguity1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ambiguite, from Latin ambiguitās, equivalent to ambigu(us) ambiguous ( def ) + -itās -ity ( def )

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Example Sentences

The ambiguity revolving around the event made it a poor candidate for a final showdown.

Hollande is ‘the king of doublespeak, ambiguity, and perpetual lies’

It was never a huge hit, but its stories resonated with an American public tenuously relearning moral ambiguity.

But the ambiguity of  “appropriate disciplinary action” is what is so frightening about the smoking ban.

No one wants to go through life in a state of moral and existential ambiguity.

If, however, we know that Garfield was born in 1831, the ambiguity would be removed.

And if a policy is susceptible of two constructions, the ambiguity is to be resolved in favor of the insured.

Ambiguity abounds everywhere and confounds everything; we are obliged at every word to exclaim, What do you mean?

Thus, all that has been said of the pretended adoration exacted by Alexander is founded on ambiguity.

The following are instances of great practical importance, in which arguments are habitually founded on a verbal ambiguity.

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