equivocal
Open to interpretation
Equivocal describes something open to more than one interpretation, often deliberately so.
An equivocal answer avoids commitment; equivocal evidence points in multiple directions.
The word often implies evasiveness or ambiguity that serves the speaker's purposes: His equivocal response left us unsure where he stood.
The opposite is unequivocal—clear and unmistakable.
Unclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- indeterminateNot exactly known
nebulous · imprecise · open-ended · noncommittal · cryptic · obscure · murky · indistinct
Causing false beliefs
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- prevaricatingAvoiding direct honesty
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
hedging · slippery · weaselly · cagey · guarded · circumlocutory · dissembling · insincere
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- hesitantSlow to act
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
- undecidedNot having chosen
uncommitted · fence-sitting · wishy-washy · shilly-shally · dithering · torn · conflicted · ambivalent
Believe to be likely
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- fishyArousing doubt, colloquially
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
- sketchyIncomplete or suspicious
suspicious · untrustworthy · unreliable · doubtful · uncertain · unconvincing · problematic · debatable
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
indeterminate · nebulous · imprecise · open-ended · noncommittal · cryptic · obscure · murky · indistinct · hazy
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- prevaricatingAvoiding direct honesty
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
duplicitous · hedging · slippery · weaselly · cagey · guarded · circumlocutory · dissembling · insincere · two-faced
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- hesitantSlow to act
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
undecided · uncommitted · fence-sitting · wishy-washy · shilly-shally · dithering · torn · conflicted · ambivalent · oscillating
suspect
Believe to be likely
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- fishyArousing doubt, colloquially
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
sketchy · suspicious · untrustworthy · unreliable · doubtful · uncertain · unconvincing · problematic · debatable · disputable
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- Noncommittalneutral, undecided, on the fence, noncommittal, indifferent
- medical resultspositive, negative, normal, abnormal, inconclusive
- Questionabledubious, shady, fishy, sketchy, iffy
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
equivocalunequivocal
Allowing one meaning only
unambiguous · clear · explicit · plain · clear-cut
equivocaldefinite
Clearly established, not vague
certain · definitive · unquestionable · indisputable · decisive
equivocalstraightforward
Clear and uncomplicated
direct · forthright · candid · frank · unambivalent
equivocate, unequivocal, equivocation, unequivocally, equivocating, equivocalness, equivocator, equivocally, equivocality