- ambiguous, equivocal
- Both mean vague and open to more than one interpretation. But whereas an ambiguous statement may be vague by accident or by intent, an equivocal one is cal-culatedly unclear.
Dictionary of troublesome word. Bill Bryson. 2013.
ambiguous, equivocal
Look at other dictionaries:
ambiguous, equivocal, unequivocal — Ambiguous means having several possible meanings, open to differing interpretations : I don t understand your answer; it s ambiguous. Equivocal is closely related in meaning to ambiguous, but it is more often used to signify not determined, of… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
ambiguous — equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic, vague, *obscure, dark Analogous words: dubious, *doubtful, questionable Antonyms: explicit Contrasted words: lucid, perspicuous, *clear: express, definite, specific, categorical (see EXPLICIT) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
ambiguous — ambiguously, adv. ambiguousness, n. /am big yooh euhs/, adj. 1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal: an ambiguous answer. 2. Ling. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more… … Universalium
ambiguous — am•big•u•ous [[t]æmˈbɪg yu əs[/t]] adj. 1) cv open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations: an ambiguous answer[/ex] 2) difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify: a rock of ambiguous character[/ex] 3) lacking clearness… … From formal English to slang
equivocal — See ambiguous. See ambiguous, equivocal, unequivocal … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
ambiguous — See ambiguous, equivocal, unequivocal … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
Equivocal — E*quiv o*cal, a. [L. aequivocus: aequus equal + vox, vocis, word. See {Equal}, and {Voice}, and cf. {Equivoque}.] 1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Equivocal chord — Equivocal E*quiv o*cal, a. [L. aequivocus: aequus equal + vox, vocis, word. See {Equal}, and {Voice}, and cf. {Equivoque}.] 1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ambiguous — I adjective abstruse, ambiguus, ambivalent, confused, difficult to comprehend, doubtful, dubious, equivocal, having a double meaning, indefinite, indistinct, inexact, lacking clearness, not clear, not plain, obscure, open to various… … Law dictionary
Ambiguous — Am*big u*ous, a. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb + agere to drive.] Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
