Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [am-big-yoo-uh s]
- /æmˈbɪg yu əs/
- /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [am-big-yoo-uh s]
- /æmˈbɪg yu əs/
Definitions of ambiguous word
- adjective ambiguous If you describe something as ambiguous, you mean that it is unclear or confusing because it can be understood in more than one way. 3
- adjective ambiguous If you describe something as ambiguous, you mean that it contains several different ideas or attitudes that do not fit well together. 3
- adjective ambiguous having more than one possible interpretation or meaning 3
- adjective ambiguous difficult to understand or classify; obscure 3
- adjective ambiguous having two or more possible meanings 3
- adjective ambiguous not clear; indefinite; vague 3
Information block about the term
Origin of ambiguous
First appearance:
before 1520 One of the 28% oldest English words
1520-30; < Latin ambiguus, equivalent to ambig(ere) be uncertain (amb- ambi- + -igere combining form of agere to drive, lead, act) + -uus deverbal adj. suffix; see -ous
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ambiguous
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ambiguous popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 92% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
ambiguous usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ambiguous
adj ambiguous
- questionable — of doubtful propriety, honesty, morality, respectability, etc.: questionable activities; in questionable taste.
- unclear — free from darkness, obscurity, or cloudiness; light: a clear day.
- uncertain — not definitely ascertainable or fixed, as in time of occurrence, number, dimensions, or quality.
- puzzling — confusing or baffling: a puzzling answer.
- opaque — not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
adjective ambiguous
- abstruse — You can describe something as abstruse if you find it difficult to understand, especially when you think it could be explained more simply.
- confusing — Something that is confusing makes it difficult for people to know exactly what is happening or what to do.
- indistinct — not distinct; not clearly marked or defined: indistinct markings.
- hazy — characterized by the presence of haze; misty: hazy weather.
- wooly — consisting of wool: a woolly fleece.
Antonyms for ambiguous
adj ambiguous
- known — past participle of know1 .
- obvious — easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident: an obvious advantage.
- unquestionable — not open to question; beyond doubt or dispute; indisputable; undeniable; certain: an unquestionable fact.
- determined — If you are determined to do something, you have made a firm decision to do it and will not let anything stop you.
- unambiguous — not ambiguous, or unclear; distinct; unequivocal: The object of the experiment was to reach an unambiguous conclusion about climate change.
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See also
Matching words
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