Synonyms for ambiguous
æmˈbɪg yu əsam·bigu·ous

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. ambiguousadjective

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   specific, precise, unambiguous

2. ambiguousadjective

   Open to multiple interpretations.

   The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   specific, precise, unambiguous

3. ambiguousadjective

   Vague and unclear.

   He gave an ambiguous answer.

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   precise, unambiguous, specific

4. ambiguousadjective

   Of persons: hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.

   Thomas Salusbury (1662): And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute....

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   specific, unambiguous, precise

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.7 / 3 votes

1. ambiguous

   Equivocal (Latin equus, equal, and vox, voice, word) denotes that which may equally well be understood in either of two or more ways. Ambiguous (Latin ambi, around, and ago, drive, lead) signifies lacking in distinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. Ambiguous is applied only to spoken or written statements; equivocal has other applications. A statement is ambiguous when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is equivocal when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is capable of a different interpretation; an equivocal expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an ambiguous utterance may be simply the result of a want either of clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is enigmatical must be guessed like a riddle; a statement may be purposely made enigmatical in order to provoke thought and study. That is doubtful which is fairly open to doubt; that is dubious which has become the subject of doubts so grave as scarcely to fall short of condemnation; as, a dubious reputation. Questionable may be used nearly in the sense either of dubious or of doubtful; a questionable statement is one that must be proved before it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is questionable is a mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to prove dishonest. Equivocal is sometimes, tho more rarely, used in this sense. A suspicious character gives manifest reason to be suspected; a suspicious temper is inclined to suspect the motives and intentions of others, with or without reason. Compare CLEAR.

   Synonyms:
   doubtful, dubious, enigmatic, enigmatical, equivocal, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, obscure, perplexing, questionable, suspicious, uncertain

   Antonyms:
   certain, clear, distinct, evident, indisputable, indubitable, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, unquestionable, unquestioned

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.3 / 3 votes

1. ambiguous

   Synonyms:
   equivocal, vague, doubtful, enigmatical, uncertain, obscure, unintelligible, perplexing, indistinct, dubious

   Antonyms:
   univocal, obvious, plain, clear, unambiguous, indisputable, necessary, unmistakable, unequivocal, lucid

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. equivocal, ambiguousadjective

   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"

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   unambiguous, structured, monosemous

2. ambiguousadjective

   having more than one possible meaning

   "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   monosemous, unambiguous, structured

3. ambiguousadjective

   having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns

   "an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference"; "ambiguous inkblots"

   Synonyms:
   equivocal

   Antonyms:
   structured, monosemous, unambiguous

Matched Categories

1. • Psychology

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ambiguousadjective

   Synonyms:
   doubtful, dubious, uncertain or equivocal, enigmatical, indefinite, indistinct, vague, indeterminate, not plain, not clear, susceptible of more than one meaning

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ambiguousadjective

   Synonyms:
   indefinite, delphic, equivocal, vague, doubtful

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "ambiguous":

   unclear, equivocal, vague, mysterious, ambivalent, obscure, dubious, blurred, shadowy, half-hearted, confusing, unambiguous, uncertain

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How to use ambiguous in a sentence?

1. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin:

   The bill is so ambiguous and so vague that doctors cannot be certain what medical circumstances would be considered ‘necessary to preserve the life of the mother,’ the absence of any definition, analysis or medical standard renders this exception vague, indefinite and vulnerable to subjective interpretation and application.

2. Governor Fallin:

   The bill is so ambiguous and so vague that doctors can not be certain what medical circumstances would be considered ‘ necessary to preserve the life of the mother, ’.

3. Erik Pevernagie:

   A doorway is an ambiguous phenomenon, a liminal spot in a person’s life. A door can be a choice, a possibility, a protection or an aperture to new-fangled values. It can mean a barrier, a prison or a gate to freedom. It can, however, vanish in the mist of unawareness by lack of social concern. At that moment, our freedom has become our jail and we feel locked up in our own liberty. Any exit has waned: the doorway has been absorbed in the stupor of our infatuation. ( “In the doorway” )

4. Andreas Beer:

   If you take a look at the Joker, it's an ambiguous mixture between something funny and something menacing, it's a horror clown and that's kind of, somehow cool. You can make memes of that.

5. Michael Pillsbury:

   There is no specific agreement for a phased rollback of the tariffs, the American side has been ambiguous when and which tariffs will be lifted. The Chinese have some wishful thinking and are trying to soothe their domestic hardliners that the tariffs will someday come off.