[
UK
/æmbˈɪɡjuːəs/
]
[ US /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ ]
[ US /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ ]
ADJECTIVE
-
having more than one possible meaning
ambiguous words
frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy -
having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns
an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference
ambiguous inkblots -
open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness
the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates
popularity is an equivocal crown
an equivocal response to an embarrassing question
an equivocal statement
How To Use ambiguous In A Sentence
- That which is soft and effeminate, which is calculated to excite the passions, by multitudes of ambiguous expressions, (not the less dangerous for being so cloaked) should be considered by Christians as an abuse the more deplorable, as it has even been censured and condemned by the pagans. The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi
- In this kind of world, the weak and feeble minded are cast to the side to die an unambiguous death, while the strong and wise go on to live a fruitful, long life.
- Lacking auditory and visual cues, the e-mail message or newsgroup post can be productively ambiguous in tone.
- He stood there for hours that night and stared into something he knew would make him a meaningless cipher in its light, make him ambiguous, coagulant dust in relationship to the size of a thing he could never comprehend, only quiver to imagine. Southern Cross
- Such an intention must be clearly manifested by unmistakable and unambiguous language.
- If the nominee is an unknown quantity as far as views on issues, then the nominee will likely make ambiguous statements about any issues the Republicans ask. Think Progress » Will: What conservatives truly want are activist judges.
- Ambiguous wording leaves some wiggle room for further negotiation.
- I think someone previously used the word ambiguous, that is absolutely spot on what he wanted. Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph
- And as long as we use the term ambiguously and fail to discriminate between conscience proper and the term as used in the looser, larger sense, we will have nothing but confusion. To Infidelity and Back
- But the auguries for the future are more ambiguous.
