Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having more than one possible meaning or interpretation: Something that is "ambiguous" is unclear because it can be understood in two or more different ways.
   • Open to doubt or uncertainty; not clearly defined: "Ambiguous" can describe a situation, statement, or feeling that is vague, indefinite, or lacks clarity.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The instructions were ambiguous, so we weren't sure which step to take first.
  • Her answer was deliberately ambiguous, leaving everyone to guess her true intentions.
  • The ending of the movie is ambiguous; viewers can decide for themselves what happened.

Advanced Usage

• "Inherently ambiguous": describes something that is ambiguous by its very nature.
  • The phrase "they saw her duck" is inherently ambiguous; it could mean they saw her pet duck or they saw her lower her head.
• "Morally ambiguous": describes a character or action whose moral qualities are unclear or mixed.
  • The novel's protagonist is a morally ambiguous figure, making it hard to decide if he is a hero or a villain.

Variants and Related Words

• Ambiguity (noun): The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
  • The contract's ambiguity led to a lengthy legal dispute.
• Unambiguously (adverb): In a manner that is clear and not open to multiple interpretations.
  • The law unambiguously states that this action is prohibited.

Synonyms

• Equivocal: Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.
• Vague: Of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning.
• Cryptic: Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

Antonyms

• Clear: Easy to perceive, understand, or interpret.
• Unambiguous: Not open to more than one interpretation.
• Definite: Clearly stated or decided; not vague or doubtful.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To leave something ambiguous": To state something in a way that is intentionally unclear or open to interpretation.
  • The politician left her position on the issue ambiguous to avoid alienating voters.

Adjective

1. having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns
   • an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference
   • ambiguous inkblots
2. having more than one possible meaning
   • ambiguous words
   • frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy
3. 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