Trends of
equivocal

View usage for:

equivocal

(ɪkwɪvəkəl)

1. adjective

If you are equivocal, you are deliberately vague in what you say, because you want to avoid speaking the truth or making a decision.

[formal]

Many were equivocal about the idea. [+ about]

His equivocal response has done nothing to dampen the speculation.

2. adjective

If something is equivocal, it is difficult to understand, interpret, or explain, often because it has aspects that seem to contradict each other.

[formal]

Research in this area is somewhat equivocal.

He was tortured by an awareness of the equivocal nature of his position.

More Synonyms of equivocal

equivocal in British English

(ɪˈkwɪvəkəl)

adjective

capable of varying interpretations; ambiguous

deliberately misleading or vague; evasive

of doubtful character or sincerity; dubious

Derived forms

equivocally (eˈquivocally)

adverb

equivocality (eˌquivoˈcality) or equivocalness (eˈquivocalness)

noun

Word origin

C17: from Late Latin aequivocus, from Latin equi- + vōx voice

equivocal in American English

(iˈkwɪvəkəl; ɪˈkwɪvəkəl)

adjective

that can have more than one interpretation; having two or more meanings; purposely vague, misleading, or ambiguous

an equivocal reply

uncertain; undecided; doubtful

an equivocal outcome

suspicious; questionable

equivocal conduct

SIMILAR WORDS: obˈscure

Derived forms

equivocality (eˌquivoˈcality) (iˈkwɪvəˈkæləti)

noun or eˈquivocalness

equivocally (eˈquivocally)

adverb

Word origin

< LL aequivocus (see equivocate) & -al

Examples of 'equivocal' in a sentence
equivocal

She remains an equivocal role model: religious ecstasy is tricky in a secular age.On the matter of his half-brother he is less equivocal.What is more surprising is that we still have an equivocal attitude to the English Baroque.Jos had always had rather a mean opinion of the Captain, and now began to think his courage was somewhat equivocal.

(adjective) in the sense of ambiguous

Definition

of doubtful character or sincerity

Her equivocal response gave nothing away.

Synonyms

ambiguous

His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.

uncertain

Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future.

misleading

The article contains several misleading statements.

obscure

The contract is written in obscure language.

suspicious

two suspicious-looking characters

vague

His description of the events was very vague.

doubtful

It seemed doubtful that he would move at all.

dubious

My parents were a bit dubious about it all.

questionable

The film is a comedy in highly questionable taste.

ambivalent

The actor has an ambivalent attitude to fame.

indefinite

a person of indefinite age

evasive

He was evasive about the circumstances of their first meeting.

oblique

indeterminate

I hope to carry on for an indeterminate period.

prevaricating

oracular

Opposites

clear

certain

straight

positive

plain

absolute

evident

decisive

explicit

definite

manifest

clear-cut

unequivocal

unambiguous

cut-and-dried (informal)

incontrovertible

indubitable

Additional synonyms

in the sense of ambivalent

The actor has an ambivalent attitude to fame.

Synonyms

undecided,

mixed,

conflicting,

opposed,

uncertain,

doubtful,

unsure,

contradictory,

wavering,

unresolved,

fluctuating,

hesitant,

inconclusive,

debatable,

equivocal,

vacillating,

warring,

irresolute,

in two minds

in the sense of doubtful

Definition

unlikely or improbable

It seemed doubtful that he would move at all.

Synonyms

unlikely,

unclear,

dubious,

unsettled,

dodgy (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),

questionable,

ambiguous,

improbable,

indefinite,

unconfirmed,

inconclusive,

debatable,

indeterminate,

iffy (informal),

equivocal,

inexact

in the sense of dubious

Definition

unsure or undecided

My parents were a bit dubious about it all.

Synonyms

unsure,

uncertain,

suspicious,

hesitating,

doubtful,

sceptical,

tentative,

wavering,

hesitant,

undecided,

unconvinced,

iffy (informal),

leery (slang),

distrustful,

in two minds (informal)

Nearby words of
equivocal

equity
equivalence
equivalent
equivocal
equivocate
equivocation
era

Synonyms of 'equivocal'

equivocal

Explore 'equivocal' in the dictionary

单词	equivocal
释义	Trends of equivocal View usage for: equivocal (ɪkwɪvəkəl) 1. adjective If you are equivocal, you are deliberately vague in what you say, because you want to avoid speaking the truth or making a decision. [formal] Many were equivocal about the idea. [+ about] His equivocal response has done nothing to dampen the speculation. 2. adjective If something is equivocal, it is difficult to understand, interpret, or explain, often because it has aspects that seem to contradict each other. [formal] Research in this area is somewhat equivocal. He was tortured by an awareness of the equivocal nature of his position. More Synonyms of equivocal equivocal in British English (ɪˈkwɪvəkəl) adjective 1. capable of varying interpretations; ambiguous 2. deliberately misleading or vague; evasive 3. of doubtful character or sincerity; dubious Derived forms equivocally (eˈquivocally) adverb equivocality (eˌquivoˈcality) or equivocalness (eˈquivocalness) noun Word origin C17: from Late Latin aequivocus, from Latin equi- + vōx voice equivocal in American English (iˈkwɪvəkəl; ɪˈkwɪvəkəl) adjective 1. that can have more than one interpretation; having two or more meanings; purposely vague, misleading, or ambiguous an equivocal reply 2. uncertain; undecided; doubtful an equivocal outcome 3. suspicious; questionable equivocal conduct SIMILAR WORDS: obˈscure Derived forms equivocality (eˌquivoˈcality) (iˈkwɪvəˈkæləti) noun or eˈquivocalness equivocally (eˈquivocally) adverb Word origin < LL aequivocus (see equivocate) & -al Examples of 'equivocal' in a sentence equivocal She remains an equivocal role model: religious ecstasy is tricky in a secular age. Times, Sunday Times (2015) On the matter of his half-brother he is less equivocal. Times, Sunday Times (2010) What is more surprising is that we still have an equivocal attitude to the English Baroque. Times, Sunday Times (2012) Jos had always had rather a mean opinion of the Captain, and now began to think his courage was somewhat equivocal. William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837) (adjective) in the sense of ambiguous Definition of doubtful character or sincerity Her equivocal response gave nothing away. Synonyms ambiguous His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week. uncertain Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future. misleading The article contains several misleading statements. obscure The contract is written in obscure language. suspicious two suspicious-looking characters vague His description of the events was very vague. doubtful It seemed doubtful that he would move at all. dubious My parents were a bit dubious about it all. questionable The film is a comedy in highly questionable taste. ambivalent The actor has an ambivalent attitude to fame. indefinite a person of indefinite age evasive He was evasive about the circumstances of their first meeting. oblique indeterminate I hope to carry on for an indeterminate period. prevaricating oracular Opposites clear , certain , straight , positive , plain , absolute , evident , decisive , explicit , definite , manifest , clear-cut , unequivocal , unambiguous , cut-and-dried (informal) , incontrovertible , indubitable Additional synonyms in the sense of ambivalent The actor has an ambivalent attitude to fame. Synonyms undecided, mixed, conflicting, opposed, uncertain, doubtful, unsure, contradictory, wavering, unresolved, fluctuating, hesitant, inconclusive, debatable, equivocal, vacillating, warring, irresolute, in two minds in the sense of doubtful Definition unlikely or improbable It seemed doubtful that he would move at all. Synonyms unlikely, unclear, dubious, unsettled, dodgy (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal), questionable, ambiguous, improbable, indefinite, unconfirmed, inconclusive, debatable, indeterminate, iffy (informal), equivocal, inexact in the sense of dubious Definition unsure or undecided My parents were a bit dubious about it all. Synonyms unsure, uncertain, suspicious, hesitating, doubtful, sceptical, tentative, wavering, hesitant, undecided, unconvinced, iffy (informal), leery (slang), distrustful, in two minds (informal) Nearby words of equivocal equity equivalence equivalent equivocal equivocate equivocation era Synonyms of 'equivocal' equivocal Explore 'equivocal' in the dictionary
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Trends ofequivocal

equivocal

equivocal in British English

equivocal in American English

Examples of 'equivocal' in a sentenceequivocal

Additional synonyms

Nearby words ofequivocal

Synonyms of 'equivocal'

equivocal

Trends of
equivocal

Examples of 'equivocal' in a sentence
equivocal

Nearby words of
equivocal