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View synonyms for ambiguous
ambiguous
[ am-big-yoo-uhs ]
adjective
- open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal:
an ambiguous answer.
Antonyms: explicit
- Linguistics. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.
- of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify:
a rock of ambiguous character.
Synonyms: anomalous, problematic, indeterminate, vague, dubious
Antonyms: certain
- lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous future.
an ambiguous shape;
an ambiguous future.
Antonyms: unambiguous, precise, clear
ambiguous
/ æmˈbɪɡjʊəs /
adjective
- having more than one possible interpretation or meaning
- difficult to understand or classify; obscure
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Derived Forms
- amˈbiguousness, noun
- amˈbiguously, adverb
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Other Words From
- am·bigu·ous·ly adverb
- am·bigu·ous·ness noun
- unam·bigu·ous adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ambiguous1
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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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