ambiguous
ambiguous
Pronunciation
Absolutely! Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "ambiguous" for both American and British English, along with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
American English (and some Canadian dialects):
IPA: /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/
Breakdown:
am (æ): short "a" sound like in "cat"
big (bɪɡ): "b" sound followed by short "i" sound like in "bit" and "g" sound
ju (ju): "j" sound followed by long "u" sound like in "boot"
əs (əs): schwa sound (a neutral vowel sound) followed by "s" sound
British English:
IPA: /æmˈbɪɡ.juː.əs/ (or /ɛəmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/)
Breakdown:
am (æ): short "a" sound like in "cat"
big (bɪɡ): "b" sound followed by short "i" sound like in "bit" and "g" sound
ju (ju): "j" sound followed by long "oo" sound like in "boot"
əs (əs): schwa sound (a neutral vowel sound) followed by "s" sound
Note:
The second vowel sound in the third syllable can vary slightly between American and British pronunciations (indicated by the two options for British English).
Word Form Variations
"Ambiguous" is a single adjective describing something unclear or open to multiple interpretations. It doesn't have separate forms for singular and plural or other grammatical variations.
Here's the breakdown:
Singular: ambiguous
Plural: ambiguous (since it describes a characteristic, it remains the same for singular or plural nouns)
Comparative: more ambiguous
Superlative: most ambiguous
Noun form: ambiguity/ambiguousness (these nouns capture the state of being ambiguous)
Adverb form: ambiguously
There are no verb conjugations or other grammatical variations for "ambiguous" itself.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition: Open to multiple interpretations; unclear or doubtful in meaning. (This is the most common use of "ambiguous")
Synonyms: unclear, vague, equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic, obscure, indefinite, uncertain
Antonyms: clear, unambiguous, precise, definite, certain, direct
Noun:
Definition 1 (ambiguity): The state of being ambiguous; lack of clarity or multiple possible meanings.
Synonyms: unclearness, vagueness, equivocation, obscurity, enigma, indefiniteness, uncertainty
Antonyms: clarity, unambiguousness, precision, definiteness, certainty
Definition 2 (ambiguousness): (Less common than ambiguity) The same meaning as definition 1.
Adverb:
Definition: In a way that is ambiguous; unclearly or doubtfully.
Synonyms: unclearly, vaguely, equivocally, cryptically, enigmatically, obscurely, indefinitely, uncertainly
Antonyms: clearly, unambiguously, precisely, definitely, certainly, directly
Examples of Use
Book: "The ending of the novel was deliberately ambiguous, leaving readers to debate the fate of the protagonist." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)
Newspaper: "The politician's statement on immigration reform was criticised for being ambiguous and lacking specifics." (The New York Times, May 2024)
Online Publication: "A recent study explored the link between social media use and an increased tolerance for ambiguity." (Science Daily, April 2024) [Online publication example]
Movie: "In the movie Inception, the director uses dream sequences to create an ambiguous reality for the characters." (2010)
Social Media: "The celebrity's tweet sparked controversy due to its ambiguous nature, leading to a variety of interpretations." (Twitter, June 2024)
Legal Document: "Ambiguous legal language can lead to disputes and lawsuits." (Common legal concept)
Customer Service: "The customer service representative apologised for the ambiguous instructions on the product assembly guide." (Common customer service scenario)
Traffic Sign: "A poorly designed traffic sign caused confusion due to its ambiguous wording." (Example of real-world ambiguity)
Art: "Modern art is often praised for its ambiguity, allowing viewers to create their own interpretations." (Art criticism concept)
Everyday Conversation: "They gave me some ambiguous instructions on where to find the meeting room." (Common use of the word)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Ambiguous
"The term 'innovative' or 'innovation' is often vague or ambiguous, but in our definition, innovation means to make something which people think impossible possible." - Steve Jobs (captures the "unclear meaning" aspect)
"A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities." - Leonardo da Vinci (highlights the ability for something ambiguous to have multiple interpretations)
"I left the ending ambiguous, because that is the way life is." - Graham Greene (shows how ambiguity reflects the uncertain nature of reality)
"The main business of a lawyer is to take the romance, the mystery, the irony, the ambiguity out of everything he touches." - Rebecca West (highlights how ambiguity can be seen as undesirable in some contexts)
"Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity." - Carl Jung (connects ambiguity with emotional states)
"May we agree that private life is irrelevant? There are no secrets in art. Art shows us what the artist had in his soul. And the soul is not a place of perfect clarity, but a cave full of echoes." - Marcel Duchamp (argues for the value of ambiguity in art)
"Take advantage of the ambiguity in the world. Look at something and think what else it might be." - W. H. Auden (encourages seeing the possibilities within ambiguity)
"If you judge everything by how photographically real it looks, then you're missing out on a lot of what art is about and what communication is about. There are ambiguities in life, and that should be reflected in art, cinema, and storytelling, I think." - Terry Gilliam (argues for the importance of ambiguity in artistic expression)
"I always end up taking people that are morally ambiguous. People who are on the edge." - David Fincher (shows how ambiguity can be used to explore complex characters)
"Chinese art is merely a product: it avoids any meaningful engagement. There is no larger context. Its only purpose is to charm viewers with its ambiguity." - Simon Leys (presents a critical view of ambiguity, suggesting it can be superficial)
Etymology
The word "ambiguous" comes from a mashup of two ancient Roman words: "ambi" meaning "both" and "agere" meaning "to drive or lead." Imagine you're driving a car, but can't decide which way to go - left or right? That's kind of like an ambiguous situation!
The first time we see "ambiguous" pop up in English was around the 15th century. Back then, it meant something was unclear or caused arguments because it could have multiple meanings. That's still the main way we use it today.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Ambiguous
Phrases:
Leave something ambiguous: To intentionally avoid making something clear.
Open to ambiguous interpretation: When something can be understood in multiple ways.
Clear up ambiguity: To explain something confusing and make it clear.
Shroud something in ambiguity: To deliberately make something unclear or mysterious.
Walk a tightrope of ambiguity: To navigate a situation where both clarity and secrecy are important.
Idioms (not literally containing "ambiguous" but expressing a similar concept):
A double entendre: A phrase with two meanings, often one suggestive.
A riddle wrapped in an enigma: Something very mysterious and difficult to understand.
Lost in translation: When the meaning of something gets muddled when communicated from one language to another.
Reading between the lines: Understanding the hidden meaning behind someone's words.
Up in the air: Uncertain or undecided.
Posts Related to Ambiguous
Source Information
Definition of ambiguous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
