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ambiguous

/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/
Meanings
  • adjective

    having more than one meaning or application

    - "The novel had ambiguous themes that left the readers puzzled."
    - "The politician's statement was ambiguous, allowing for different interpretations."
  • adjective

    not clear or definite

    - "The instructions for assembling the furniture were ambiguous."
    - "The test results were ambiguous, requiring further analysis."
Pronunciation
  1. /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=685450"
Antonyms

clear , precise , unambiguous , unambiguous
Synonyms

equivocal
Rhymes
Words rhyming with ambiguous
ambiguous , deranged , arranged , rearranged , enraged , engaged
Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

  1. ambigious

  2. ambiguousness

  3. embezzle

  4. imbezzel

  5. embezzlement

  6. imbibing

  7. imbizing

Variants
List of all variants of ambiguous that leads to same result
ambiguous , ambiguously , ambiguousness , ambiguousnesses
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally meant 'doubtful' or 'uncertain' in Latin, ambiguous comes from ambiguus, which means 'doubtful,' 'uncertain,' or 'dual.'

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'ambiguous' is used in psychology to describe a person's response when they are unsure or uncertain.

  2. The ambiguous zone is a term used in psychology to describe the area between conscious and unconscious thought.

  3. The term 'ambiguous' was first used in English literature in the 15th century.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. semantic ambiguity: Refers to the presence of multiple meanings for a single word or phrase.

  2. pragmatic ambiguity: Refers to the presence of multiple meanings based on context or situation.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. He seeks sources for the speech's ideas in Lincoln's "ambiguous" stance toward organized religion, in the sermons of preachers he listened to, and in his Bible-reading habit.

    - Gilbert Taylor,{it}Booklist{/it},15 Dec. 2001

  2. Greater familiarity with this artist makes one's assessment of him more tentative rather than less. His best pictures exude a hypersensitive, "ambiguous" aura of grace.

    - Peter Schjeldahl,{it}New Yorker{/it},10 Mar. 2003

  3. In Mexico we follow the fraught, "ambiguous" journey of a Tijuana cop … caught between the ruthless, corrupt general … he works for and the DEA, which wants him to inform on his countrymen.

    - David Ansen,{it}Newsweek{/it},8 Jan. 2001

  4. Physicians could manipulate reimbursement rules to help their patients obtain coverage for care that the physicians perceive to be necessary, for example, through "ambiguous" documentation or by exaggerating the severity of patients' conditions.

    - Michael K. Wynia et al.,{it}Journal of the American Medical Association{/it},12 Apr. 2000
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Ambiguous has been used extensively in literature, art, and music to create suspense, ambiguity, and complexity. For instance, in literature, Ambiguous by Friedrich Dürrenmatt is a play about moral ambiguity and the human condition.

How to Memorize "ambiguous"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a Venn diagram with two overlapping circles, representing two meanings of ambiguous. Visualize the overlapping area as the ambiguous region where both meanings apply.

  2. associate

    - Associate ambiguous with words like 'uncertain,' 'doubtful,' and 'unclear' to help remember its meaning.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the mnemonic 'Ambiguous is a word that is unsure, it can mean two things, it's not quite obscure.'

Memorize "ambiguous" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize ambiguous is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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