equivocality
Meaning left unclear
Equivocality is the quality of being open to more than one interpretation—ambiguity that may be accidental or deliberately cultivated.
A statement has equivocality when its meaning remains unclear: The equivocality of her answer left us unsure whether she'd accepted.
The word often implies evasiveness or a refusal to commit to a clear position.
Having multiple interpretations
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
cryptic · enigmatic · obscure · nebulous · opaque · indeterminate · murky · muddled
Uncertain of truth
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- uncertainNot firmly known
- skepticalInclined to question claims
tentative · hesitant · iffy · inconclusive · undecided · indecisive · wavering · vacillating
Causing false beliefs
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
duplicitous · two-faced · insincere · prevaricating · sophistry · casuistry · waffling · dissembling
ambiguous
Having multiple interpretations
double-entendre · cryptic · enigmatic · obscure · nebulous · opaque · indeterminate · murky · muddled · imprecise
doubtful
Uncertain of truth
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- uncertainNot firmly known
skeptical · tentative · hesitant · iffy · inconclusive · undecided · indecisive · wavering · vacillating · uncommitted
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- dodgyQuestionable in character
disingenuous · duplicitous · two-faced · insincere · prevaricating · sophistry · casuistry · waffling · dissembling · artful
equivocalityclarity
State of being understandable
unequivocalness · lucidity · clearness · perspicuity · explicitness
equivocalitystraightforwardness
Quality of being direct
directness · forthrightness · candidness · frankness · plainspokenness
equivocal, equivocate, equivocation, equivocating, equivocalness, equivocator, equivocally, equivocated, equivocates