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ambiguous - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'ambiguous' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Ambiguous [ a.]
- Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.

Meaning of 'ambiguous' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . ambiguous [ a]
Meaning (1):
- having more than one possible meaning
Example in sentence:
  • ambiguous words;
  • frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy
Meaning (2):
- open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
Example in sentence:
  • an equivocal response to an embarrassing question;
  • an equivocal statement;
  • popularity is an equivocal crown;
  • the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness;
  • the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates
3 . ambiguous [ s]
Meaning (3):
- having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns
Example in sentence:
  • ambiguous inkblots;
  • an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference

Nearby Words:

amb- ambages ambaginous ambagious ambagitory ambassade ambassador ambassadorial ambassadorship ambassadress

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Related Definitions

  • Ambiguous figures
    Ambiguous figures is a drawing that appears to change as you look at it and become something else. The two figures alternate automatically as the perceptual

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