Meaning & use
in an ambiguous way
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
In a manner that can be understood in two or more different ways, so the meaning is not clear.
Grammar: Acts as an adverb, usually placed after the verb or at the end of the clause: 'She spoke in an ambiguous way.'
Patterns
- say/answer something in an ambiguous way
- in an ambiguous way, someone does something
The manager replied in an ambiguous way, so nobody knew whether the project had been approved.
Her email was written in an ambiguous way, and two colleagues read it as two completely different requests.
He smiled in an ambiguous way and said nothing, which made everyone uneasy.
phrasefixed phrasedisapproving
In a way that deliberately avoids giving a clear answer or position.
Grammar: Used when the lack of clarity seems intentional rather than accidental; often with verbs like 'phrase', 'word' or 'put'.
Patterns
- phrase something in an ambiguous way
- word something in an ambiguous way
The report was worded in an ambiguous way, which let the company deny any promise later.
Politicians often answer in an ambiguous way so that they can claim they meant either thing.
Common combinations
- answer in an ambiguous way
- When asked about the delay, he answered in an ambiguous way.
- speak in an ambiguous way
- She spoke in an ambiguous way about her plans for next year.
- phrase something in an ambiguous way
- The contract was phrased in an ambiguous way on purpose.
- deliberately ambiguous
- The final line of the poem is deliberately ambiguous.
- an ambiguous answer
- His ambiguous answer left the whole team guessing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- vaguely
- Vaguely means without detail or precision, often because the speaker does not know; ambiguous stresses that two clear readings are both possible.
- evasively
- Evasively means avoiding a direct answer on purpose, which is close here, but it does not necessarily mean the words have two meanings.
- unclearly
- Unclearly is the everyday, plainer choice; it can also mean hard to hear or see, while this phrase is only about meaning.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: in an ambiguous way or ambivalent? in an ambiguous way or in an ambivalent way?
in an ambiguous way vs ambivalent
Ambivalent describes having mixed feelings about something, not having two possible meanings. A person can feel ambivalent, but a sentence is ambiguous.
in an ambiguous way vs in an ambivalent way
This is a common mistake for the same reason: it would mean 'with mixed feelings', which is about emotions, not about unclear meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'in an ambiguous way' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase describes something said or written that can be understood in more than one way, so it fits the instructions. Option 0 describes mixed feelings, which needs 'ambivalent', and options 2 and 3 use it with actions of movement, where it makes no sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in an ambiguous way”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.