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
Listen to this article TALLAHASSEE — Rejecting arguments that the law is ambiguous, the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday that peaceful protesters are not threatened by a measure that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature passed in 2021 to crack down on violent demonstrations.
—Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2024
Rejecting arguments that the law is ambiguous, the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday that peaceful protesters are not threatened by a measure that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature passed in 2021 to crack down on violent demonstrations.
—Miami Herald, 20 June 2024
Generally, this rule establishes that, when a criminal law is ambiguous, the ambiguity should be resolved in favor of the defendants.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 14 June 2024
Scatman Crothers lends all possible credence to an increasingly ambiguous role.
—Arthur Knight, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for ambiguous 
Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2024
Rejecting arguments that the law is ambiguous, the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday that peaceful protesters are not threatened by a measure that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature passed in 2021 to crack down on violent demonstrations.
—Miami Herald, 20 June 2024
Generally, this rule establishes that, when a criminal law is ambiguous, the ambiguity should be resolved in favor of the defendants.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 14 June 2024
Scatman Crothers lends all possible credence to an increasingly ambiguous role.
—Arthur Knight, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for ambiguous
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambiguous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ambiguous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambiguous. Accessed 3 Jul. 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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