am·big·u·ous
(ăm-bĭg′yo͞o-əs)adj.
1. Open to more than one interpretation: an ambiguous reply.
2. Doubtful or uncertain: "The theatrical status of her frequently derided but constantly revived plays remained ambiguous" (Frank Rich).
[From Latin ambiguus, uncertain, from ambigere, to go about : amb-, ambi-, around; see ambi- + agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
am·big′u·ous·ly adv.
am·big′u·ous·ness n.
Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal, vague
These adjectives mean lacking clarity, especially by being open to a variety of interpretations. Ambiguous indicates the presence of two or more possible meanings: "It was impossible to tell from his ambiguous expression whether he knew what was happening" (Paul Theroux).
Something equivocal is unclear or misleading: "The polling had a complex and equivocal message for potential female candidates" (David S. Broder).
What is vague is expressed in indefinite form or reflects imprecision of thought: "Vague ... forms of speech ... have so long passed for mysteries of science" (John Locke).
These adjectives mean lacking clarity, especially by being open to a variety of interpretations. Ambiguous indicates the presence of two or more possible meanings: "It was impossible to tell from his ambiguous expression whether he knew what was happening" (Paul Theroux).
Something equivocal is unclear or misleading: "The polling had a complex and equivocal message for potential female candidates" (David S. Broder).
What is vague is expressed in indefinite form or reflects imprecision of thought: "Vague ... forms of speech ... have so long passed for mysteries of science" (John Locke).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ambiguous
(æmˈbɪɡjʊəs)adj
1. having more than one possible interpretation or meaning
2. difficult to understand or classify; obscure
[C16: from Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from ambi- + agere to lead, act]
amˈbiguously adv
amˈbiguousness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
am•big•u•ous
(æmˈbɪg yu əs)adj.
1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations: an ambiguous answer.
2. difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify: a rock of ambiguous character.
3. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous shape.
[1520–30; < Latin ambiguus=ambig(ere) be uncertain (amb- ambi- + -igere, comb. form of agere to drive, lead, act) + -uus deverbative adj. suffix; see -ous]
am•big′u•ous•ly, adv.
am•big′u•ous•ness, n.
syn: ambiguous, equivocal both refer to words or expressions that are not clear in meaning. ambiguous describes that which is capable of two or more contradictory interpretations, usu. unintentionally so: an ambiguous line in a poem; an ambiguous smile. equivocal also means susceptible of contradictory interpretations, but usu. by a deliberate intent to mislead or mystify: an equivocal response to an embarrassing question.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | ambiguous - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question" ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy" |
| 2. | ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy" unclear - not clear to the mind; "the law itself was unclear on that point"; "the reason for their actions is unclear to this day" ambiguous, equivocal - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question" unambiguous - having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; "As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous"- Mario Vargas Llosa | |
| 3. |  ambiguous - having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns; "an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference"; "ambiguous inkblots"psychological science, psychology - the science of mental life unstructured - lacking definite structure or organization; "an unstructured situation with no one in authority"; "a neighborhood gang with a relatively unstructured system"; "children in an unstructured environment often feel insecure"; "unstructured inkblots" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
ambiguous
adjective unclear, puzzling, uncertain, obscure, vague, doubtful, dubious, enigmatic, indefinite, inconclusive, cryptic, indeterminate, equivocal, Delphic, oracular, enigmatical, clear as mud (informal) His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.
clear, simple, specific, obvious, plain, explicit, definite, unmistakable, unequivocal, unquestionable
clear, simple, specific, obvious, plain, explicit, definite, unmistakable, unequivocal, unquestionable
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
ambiguous
adjective1. Liable to more than one interpretation:
2. Not affording certainty:
borderline, chancy, clouded, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, inconclusive, indecisive, indeterminate, problematic, problematical, questionable, uncertain, unclear, unsure.
Informal: iffy.
Idioms: at issue, in doubt, in question.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
غَامِض
dvojznačnýmnohoznačný
kétértelmû
tvíræîur, margræîur
dviprasmiškaidviprasmiškasdviprasmiškumas
divdomīgsneskaidrs
dvojznačný
anlamı belirsizbelirsiz
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
ambiguous
[æmˈbɪgjuəs] adj (= open to more than one interpretation) [message, statement, language, definition] → ambigu(ë)
(= equivocal) [feelings, relationship] → équivoque
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
ambiguous
adj → zwei- or doppeldeutig; joke, comment etc → zweideutig; (= with many possible meanings) → mehr- or vieldeutig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
ambiguous
[æmˈbɪgjʊəs] adj → ambiguo/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
ambiguous
(ӕmˈbigjuəs) adjective having more than one possible meaning. After the cat caught the mouse, it died is an ambiguous statement (ie it is not clear whether it = the cat or = the mouse).
amˈbiguously adverbˌambiˈguity (-ˈgjuː-) noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.