SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
ambiguous
adjective
Open to more than one interpretation or not clearly expressed.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Open to several readings
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topEquivocal can suggest intentional ambiguity; vague lacks precision. Double-edged often means having mixed or opposite effects rather than an unclear meaning.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The ambiguous family
These forms are closely related, but their grammar and use are not identical. Expand a form to compare its meaning and examples.
ambiguitynoun
Uncertainty caused by more than one possible meaning or interpretation.
More than one interpretation
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
The ambiguity in the invitation left guests unsure about the dress code.
The ambiguity in the recycling club's notice, 'Bring bottles and bags with labels,' left volunteers unsure whether both kinds of container needed identification.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See ambiguous in use
The ambiguous directions could describe either entrance.
A message about a shared studio said that members could reserve the back room after the next meeting. The timing was ambiguous: did booking begin when the meeting ended, or could members reserve dates that followed it?
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license