释义 |
ambiguous
am·big·u·ous A0243100 (ăm-bĭg′yo͞o-əs)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 Indo-European roots.] am·big′u·ous·ly adv.am·big′u·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).ambiguous (æmˈbɪɡjʊəs) adj1. having more than one possible interpretation or meaning2. difficult to understand or classify; obscure[C16: from Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from ambi- + agere to lead, act] amˈbiguously adv amˈbiguousness nam•big•u•ous (æmˈbɪg yu əs) adj. 1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations: an ambiguous answer. 2. difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify: a rock of ambiguous character. 3. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous shape. [1520–30; < Latin ambiguus=ambig(ere) be uncertain (amb- ambi- + -igere, comb. form of agere to drive, lead, act) + -uus deverbative adj. suffix; see -ous] am•big′u•ous•ly, adv. am•big′u•ous•ness, n. syn: ambiguous, equivocal both refer to words or expressions that are not clear in meaning. ambiguous describes that which is capable of two or more contradictory interpretations, usu. unintentionally so: an ambiguous line in a poem; an ambiguous smile. equivocal also means susceptible of contradictory interpretations, but usu. by a deliberate intent to mislead or mystify: an equivocal response to an embarrassing question. ThesaurusAdj. | 1. | ambiguous - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question"equivocalambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy" | | 2. | ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"unclear - not clear to the mind; "the law itself was unclear on that point"; "the reason for their actions is unclear to this day"ambiguous, equivocal - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question"unambiguous - having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; "As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous"- Mario Vargas Llosa | | 3. | ambiguous - having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns; "an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference"; "ambiguous inkblots"psychological science, psychology - the science of mental lifeunstructured - lacking definite structure or organization; "an unstructured situation with no one in authority"; "a neighborhood gang with a relatively unstructured system"; "children in an unstructured environment often feel insecure"; "unstructured inkblots" |
ambiguousadjective unclear, puzzling, uncertain, obscure, vague, doubtful, dubious, enigmatic, indefinite, inconclusive, cryptic, indeterminate, equivocal, Delphic, oracular, enigmatical, clear as mud (informal) His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week. clear, simple, specific, obvious, plain, explicit, definite, unmistakable, unequivocal, unquestionableambiguousadjective1. Liable to more than one interpretation:cloudy, equivocal, inexplicit, nebulous, obscure, uncertain, unclear, vague.2. Not affording certainty:borderline, chancy, clouded, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, inconclusive, indecisive, indeterminate, problematic, problematical, questionable, uncertain, unclear, unsure.Informal: iffy.Idioms: at issue, in doubt, in question.Translationsambiguous (ӕmˈbigjuəs) adjective having more than one possible meaning. After the cat caught the mouse, it died is an ambiguous statement (ie it is not clear whether it = the cat or = the mouse). 意思含糊的,模稜兩可的 不明确的,模棱两可的 amˈbiguously adverb 模稜兩可地 模棱两可地ˌambiˈguity (-ˈgjuː-) noun 含糊,不明確 意义含糊,歧义 ambiguous
am·big·u·ous (am-big'yū-ŭs), 1. Having more than one interpretation. 2. In anatomy, wandering; having more than one direction. 3. In neuroanatomy, applied to a nucleus (nucleus ambiguus) supplying special visceral efferent fibers to the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigo, to wander] ambiguous adjective Having more than 1 possible meaning; equivocal.am·big·u·ous (am-big'yū-ŭs) 1. Having more than one interpretation. 2. In anatomy, wandering; having more than one direction. 3. In neuroanatomy, applied to a nucleus (nucleus ambiguus) supplying special visceral efferent fibers to the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigo, to wander]LegalSeeambiguityFinancialSeeAmbiguityambiguous
Synonyms for ambiguousadj unclearSynonyms- unclear
- puzzling
- uncertain
- obscure
- vague
- doubtful
- dubious
- enigmatic
- indefinite
- inconclusive
- cryptic
- indeterminate
- equivocal
- Delphic
- oracular
- enigmatical
- clear as mud
Antonyms- clear
- simple
- specific
- obvious
- plain
- explicit
- definite
- unmistakable
- unequivocal
- unquestionable
Synonyms for ambiguousadj liable to more than one interpretationSynonyms- cloudy
- equivocal
- inexplicit
- nebulous
- obscure
- uncertain
- unclear
- vague
adj not affording certaintySynonyms- borderline
- chancy
- clouded
- doubtful
- dubious
- dubitable
- equivocal
- inconclusive
- indecisive
- indeterminate
- problematic
- problematical
- questionable
- uncertain
- unclear
- unsure
- iffy
Synonyms for ambiguousadj open to two or more interpretationsSynonymsRelated Wordsadj having more than one possible meaningRelated Words- unclear
- ambiguous
- equivocal
Antonymsadj having no intrinsic or objective meaningRelated Words- psychological science
- psychology
- unstructured
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