ambiguous
open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations;equivocal: an ambiguous answer.
Linguistics. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.
of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify: a rock of ambiguous character.
lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous shape;an ambiguous future.
Origin of ambiguous
1synonym study For ambiguous
Other words for ambiguous
3 | dubious, vague, indeterminate, problematic; anomalous, unclassifiable |
4 | puzzling, enigmatic |
Opposites for ambiguous
Other words from ambiguous
- am·big·u·ous·ly, adverb
- am·big·u·ous·ness, noun
- un·am·big·u·ous, adjective
Words that may be confused with ambiguous
- ambiguous , ambivalent
Words Nearby ambiguous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ambiguous in a sentence
Those metrics provide a very clear way to benchmark performance—something that doesn’t exist for many real-world problems, where the most effective move may be far more ambiguous and the entire concept of “winning” may not apply.
Know when to fold ’em: How a company best known for playing games used A.I. to solve one of biology’s greatest mysteries | Jeremy Kahn | November 30, 2020 | FortuneThe question was ambiguous as stated, so I gave credit for both answers.
Such questions routinely prompt ambiguous and gendered responses.
Finally, as some readers observed, the original puzzle was slightly ambiguous as written.
In those ambiguous cases, mathematicians have additional tools at their disposal.
The ‘Useless’ Perspective That Transformed Mathematics | Kevin Hartnett | June 9, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
But what is it like to be the embodiment of that, as an ethnically ambiguous individual?
What It's Like To Be Ambiguously Ethnic | The Daily Beast Video | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe can only speculate as to the intentions behind these ambiguous words.
Even the Biblical roots of gender are more ambiguous than people think.
The writer has followed a rule but compromised clarity; whether the vote or the approval was immediate is ambiguous.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With | Nick Romeo | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“The subject area in question is subjective and ambiguous,” he wrote.
Fired From Los Alamos for Pushing Obama's Nuclear Agenda | Center for Public Integrity | July 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome few of them however (perhaps from my want of Judgment) seem so ambiguous, as to want a little Explanation.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope | Colley CibberIn some cases proper evidence may be used to identify things where the description in the will is ambiguous.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesIt was a claiming touch, and there was something in the unfolded sweetness of her face that was not ambiguous.
Hilda | Sarah Jeanette DuncanI am not without resources; but his civil ambiguous silence, by feeding my hopes, has encreased my difficulties.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) | Edward GibbonTo think of a chap writing such a veiled, ambiguous, absolutely botched sentence, and cooking up such a mess!
Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays | Various
British Dictionary definitions for ambiguous
/ (æmˈbɪɡjʊəs) /
having more than one possible interpretation or meaning
difficult to understand or classify; obscure
Origin of ambiguous
1Derived forms of ambiguous
- ambiguously, adverb
- ambiguousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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