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adj. 1. Open to more than one interpretation: an ambiguous reply. 2. Doubtful or uncertain: "The theatrical status of her frequently derided but constantly revived plays remained ambiguous" (Frank Rich). [From Latin ambiguus, uncertain, from ambigere, to go about : amb-, ambi-, around; see AMBI- + agere, to drive; see ag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] am·bigu·ous·ly adv. am·bigu·ous·ness n. Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal, vague These adjectives mean lacking clarity, especially by being open to a variety of interpretations. Ambiguous indicates the presence of two or more possible meanings: "It was impossible to tell from his ambiguous expression whether he knew what was happening" (Paul Theroux). Something equivocal is unclear or misleading: "The polling had a complex and equivocal message for potential female candidates" (David S. Broder). What is vague is expressed in indefinite form or reflects imprecision of thought: "Vague ... forms of speech ... have so long passed for mysteries of science" (John Locke). |
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