Ambiguous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /am-ˈbi-gyə-wəs/ am·big·u·ous

Meaning & Definition of Ambiguous

Ambiguous (adjective)

  1. capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways
  2. difficult to discern or categorize

Ambiguous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning

    "the exact reason for the change in plans is ambiguous, but I suspect it has something to do with money"

    similar: arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical, enigmatic, equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult, opaque
    related: abstruse, esoteric, recondite, cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded, beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant, shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike, indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague, impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable, eerie, uncanny, weird, impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible, unanswerable, unknowable, baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable, circuitous, indirect, roundabout, complex, complicated, difficult, obtuse
    opposite: accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal
    near: comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable, bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory, certain, firm, strong, sure, defined, determined, direct, straightforward, definite, exact, explicit, appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible, blatant, patent, unmistakable

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ambiguous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ambiguous:

arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical, enigmatic, equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult, opaque

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ambiguous

Words with the opposite meaning of Ambiguous:

accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

Related Words for Ambiguous

abstruse, esoteric, recondite, cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded, beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant, shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike, indefinite

Near Antonyms of Ambiguous

comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable, bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory, certain, firm, strong, sure, defined, determined, direct, straightforward, definite, exact, explicit, appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible, blatant, patent, unmistakable

Word Forms of Ambiguous

Derived words: ambiguously (adverb), ambiguousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Ambiguous

Latin ambiguus "unresolved, hesitating in mind, of uncertain outcome, having more than one possible meaning, untrustworthy" (from ambigō, ambigere "to dispute, be undecided, call in question, be in doubt" —from amb- "around, about, on both sides" + agere "to drive [cattle], be in motion, do, perform"— + -uus, deverbal adjective suffix) + -ous ambient:1, agent

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Ambiguous

Frequently Asked Questions about Ambiguous

What does "Ambiguous" mean?

"Ambiguous" means capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways. As an adjective, it is defined as: capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways.

What is another word for "Ambiguous"?

Other words for "Ambiguous" include arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical and enigmatic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ambiguous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ambiguous"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ambiguous". Common alternatives include arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical, enigmatic, equivocal and fuliginous.

What is the opposite of "Ambiguous"?

Antonyms of "Ambiguous" include accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous and unequivocal. Near antonyms include comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible and knowable.

How do you use "Ambiguous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ambiguous" in a sentence: "the exact reason for the change in plans is ambiguous, but I suspect it has something to do with money".

Is "Ambiguous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ambiguous" is an adjective.

Is "Ambiguous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Ambiguous" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Ambiguous"?

"Ambiguous" is pronounced /am-ˈbi-gyə-wəs/ and divided into syllables as am·big·u·ous.