Ambiguous vs. Equivocate

Ambiguous vs. Equivocate — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Ambiguous and Equivocate

Ambiguousadjective

Open to multiple interpretations.

The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.

Equivocateverb

(intransitive) To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity.

Ambiguousadjective

Vague and unclear.

He gave an ambiguous answer.

Equivocateverb

To render equivocal or ambiguous.

Ambiguousadjective

Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.

Equivocateverb

be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

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Ambiguousadjective

open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead;

an equivocal statementthe polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidatesthe officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasinesspopularity is an equivocal crownan equivocal response to an embarrassing question

Ambiguousadjective

having more than one possible meaning;

ambiguous wordsfrustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy

Ambiguousadjective

having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns;

an ambiguous situation with no frame of referenceambiguous inkblots