ambiguous
adjective
am·big·u·ous
am-ˈbi-gyə-wəs 
1
a
: doubtful or uncertain especially from obscurity or indistinctness
eyes of an ambiguous color
b
2
: capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways
an ambiguous smile
an ambiguous term
a deliberately ambiguous reply
ambiguously
adverb
ambiguousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of ambiguous in a Sentence
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, New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2003
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, Booklist, 15 Dec. 2001
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, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2001
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., Journal of the American Medical Association, 12 Apr. 2000
We were confused by the ambiguous wording of the message.
He looked at her with an ambiguous smile.
Due to the ambiguous nature of the question, it was difficult to choose the right answer.
the ambiguous position of women in modern society
Peter Schjeldahl, New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2003
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, Booklist, 15 Dec. 2001
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, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2001
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., Journal of the American Medical Association, 12 Apr. 2000
We were confused by the ambiguous wording of the message.
He looked at her with an ambiguous smile.
Due to the ambiguous nature of the question, it was difficult to choose the right answer.
the ambiguous position of women in modern society
Recent Examples on the Web
To minimize misinterpretations, providing clear guidelines for writing test instructions and avoiding ambiguous phrasing is key.
—Asad Khan, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Sunny is the creation of Suzie’s husband, who died under ambiguous circumstances, leaving her alone in their life in Kyoto.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Through voiceover, Wang shares details from off-the-record conversations which unveil Payá’s ambiguous feelings about the former president.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
The lively canvas, hardly an illustration of an event, employs light-reflective silver and golden-brown metallic paints applied in vast fields of paisley-like commas that dematerialize into a spatially ambiguous surface shimmer.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
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Asad Khan, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Sunny is the creation of Suzie’s husband, who died under ambiguous circumstances, leaving her alone in their life in Kyoto.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Through voiceover, Wang shares details from off-the-record conversations which unveil Payá’s ambiguous feelings about the former president.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
The lively canvas, hardly an illustration of an event, employs light-reflective silver and golden-brown metallic paints applied in vast fields of paisley-like commas that dematerialize into a spatially ambiguous surface shimmer.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ambiguous
Articles Related to ambiguous
Dictionary Entries Near ambiguous
Cite this Entry
“Ambiguous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambiguous. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ambiguous
adjective
am·big·u·ous
am-ˈbig-yə-wəs
: able to be understood in more than one way
ambiguously
adverb
ambiguousness
noun
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