ambiguity
Meaning's elusive multiplicity
Ambiguity is the quality of being open to more than one interpretation.
A sentence with ambiguity can be read different ways: The sign said "Free Pizza for Students with ID" but the ambiguity left us wondering if the pizza or the students needed identification.
Ambiguity may be unintentional confusion or deliberate evasion—politicians often exploit ambiguity to avoid committing to positions.
In literature, ambiguity can enrich meaning by holding multiple interpretations in tension.
Something unexplained or unknown
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
sphinx · enigmatic · riddle · obscure · arcane · unfathomable · opaque · mystifying
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
euphemism · equivocation · malapropism · garden-path · zeugma · oxymoron
Lacking exactness or accuracy
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- unclearNot easily understood
indistinct · hazy · murky · blurry · amorphous · unspecific · diffuse · cloudy
Word having related meanings
- homonymWord with twin sound
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homographShared spelling, separate meanings
- lexicalOf or relating to words
semantic · syntactic · referent · antecedent · modifier · parsing · dangling · grammatical
Consisting of two parts
- dualHaving two parts
- binaryConsisting of two parts
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- two-sidedWith opposite surfaces
either-or · dichotomy · Janus-faced · double-edged · bifurcation · duplicity
Lack of firm belief
- indecisionFailure to decide
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- indeterminateNot exactly known
questionable · inconclusive · unsettled · tentative · open-ended · undecided · unresolved · pending
Speak vaguely to mislead
- hedgeBoundary of planted shrubs
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- waffleGridded breakfast cake
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
evasive · fence-sitting · double-talk · obfuscate · sidestep · deflect · dodge · misleading
Seemingly absurd truth
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- undecidableLacking possible proof
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- incompletenessState of lacking parts
mystery
Something unexplained or unknown
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
perplexing · sphinx · enigmatic · riddle · obscure · arcane · unfathomable · opaque · mystifying · baffling
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
irony · euphemism · equivocation · malapropism · garden-path · zeugma · oxymoron
imprecise
Lacking exactness or accuracy
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- fuzzySoft and unclear
unclear · indistinct · hazy · murky · blurry · amorphous · unspecific · diffuse · cloudy · opaque
polysemy
Word having related meanings
- homonymWord with twin sound
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homographShared spelling, separate meanings
lexical · semantic · syntactic · referent · antecedent · modifier · parsing · dangling · grammatical · pragmatic
twofold
Consisting of two parts
two-sided · either-or · dichotomy · Janus-faced · double-edged · bifurcation · duplicity
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- indecisionFailure to decide
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
indeterminate · questionable · inconclusive · unsettled · tentative · open-ended · undecided · unresolved · pending · borderline
equivocate
Speak vaguely to mislead
- hedgeBoundary of planted shrubs
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- waffleGridded breakfast cake
noncommittal · evasive · fence-sitting · double-talk · obfuscate · sidestep · deflect · dodge · misleading · slippery
paradox
Seemingly absurd truth
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- undecidableLacking possible proof
- indeterminateNot exactly known
incompleteness · self-reference · Russell · truth-value · bivalence
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- ambiguitydouble meaning, vagueness, equivocation, uncertainty, multiple meanings
- indirectnesscircumlocution, euphemism, hedging, hint, hinting
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- contract defectsduress, fraud, misrepresentation, mistake, nullity
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
ambiguityclarity
State of being understandable
clearness · lucidity · perspicuity · plainness · perspicuousness
ambiguityexplicitness
Quality of being unambiguous
precision · exactness · definiteness · specificity · exactitude
ambiguitycertainty
Total absence of doubt
surety · self-evidence · obviousness · conclusiveness · definitiveness
- moral ambiguityUnclear rightness or wrongness
- racial ambiguityUnclear perceived heritage
- deliberate ambiguityPlanned imprecision in meaning
- ethical ambiguityUnclear right or wrong
- gender ambiguityUncertain masculine-feminine status