2021-04-30
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด – A – ambiguous & ambivalent & equivocal
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Dictionary.com
ออกเสียง ambiguous = ‘am-BIG-yoo-uhs’
ออกเสียง ambivalent = ‘am-BIV-vuh-luhnt’
ออกเสียง equivocal = ‘ih-KWIV-uh-kuhl’
Dictionary.com
SYNONYM STUDY FOR AMBIGUOUS
ambiguous, equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic
describe conditionsor statements not clear in meaning.
ambiguous can refer to a statement, act, or attitude
that is capable of twoor more often contradictory interpretations,
usually accidentallyor unintentionally so:
an ambiguouspassage in the preamble.
equivocal, usually applied to spoken as well as written language,
also means susceptible of two or more interpretations,
and it usually suggests a deliberate intent to mislead by avoidingclarity:
saving face with an equivocal response to an embarrassing question.
cryptic usually refers to intentional obscurity,
especially in language, and often implies a private or hidden meaning
but stresses resultant mystification or puzzlement:
a cryptic remark that left us struggling to interpret his intention.
enigmatic focuses on perplexity
resulting froma mysterious or imponderable event or utterance,
often oneof great importance or deep significance:
prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries.
Dictionary.com
“Ambiguous” vs. “Ambivalent”
Just like people assume
family members are inherently similarbecause they are related,
people assume the same things about words:
if they have similar spellings and soundings,
they must be alike.
As it iswith people,
the similaritiesbetween some related words
that look and soundthe same end there.
Take ambiguous and ambivalent for example.
They share the Latin prefix ambi-, which means “both,”
So, it is easy to see how they can be mixed up.
However, the duality pertains to very different things.
Top of Form
What does ambivalent mean?
To be ambivalent (adjective) about something
meansthat one has “mixed or confusing feelings” about it.
Being truly ambivalentis neither a negative nor positive feeling;
a person who is experiencing ambivalence is likely to be utterly neutral.
It’s also a fairly “new” word;
it was coined and utilized by the field of psychology in 1916,
buthit common usage just a decade later.
In action, it looks a little something like this:
Even though they just broke up, she was ambivalent about attending his party.
What does ambiguous mean?
Experiencingsomething that is ambiguous
means thatthe situation could be “open to several meanings”
and therefore, is unclear. Etymologically speaking,
ambiguous dates back to the 1520s
and is derived fromthe Latin ambiguus meaning
“having double meaning, shifting, changeable, doubtful.”
To describe something
—whether it is an indistinguishable silhouette or a befuddling sentence
—as ambiguous means that
you weren’t truly presented with enough information to make a decision.
For instance:
He specificallyused ambiguous words
so that he wouldn’t have to take a stand at this point in the campaign.
What is the difference?
Between these two words,
the biggest differencelies in the intention.
Use ambivalent as a descriptor
if all of the information has been provided on the subject
and it still generates a neutral feeling.
For anyone dealing with a situation that is totally unclear,
and they don’t know how they should think, feel, or interpret it,
the best word to useis ambiguous.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Choosethe Right Synonym for ambiguous
OBSCURE, DARK, VAGUE, ENIGMATIC, CRYPTIC, AMBIGUOUS, EQUIVOCAL meannot clearly understandable.
OBSCURE implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
obscure poems
DARK implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominousor sinister suggestion.
muttered dark hints of revenge
VAGUE implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conceptionor consideration.
a vague sense of obligation
ENIGMATIC stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.
enigmatic occult writings
CRYPTIC implies a purposely concealed meaning.
cryptic hints of hidden treasure
AMBIGUOUS applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.
an ambiguous directive
EQUIVOCAL applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.
moral precepts with equivocal phrasing
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Choosethe Right Synonym for equivocal
OBSCURE, DARK, VAGUE, ENIGMATIC, CRYPTIC, AMBIGUOUS, EQUIVOCAL meannot clearly understandable.
OBSCURE implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
obscure poems
DARK implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.
muttered dark hints of revenge
VAGUE impliesa lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.
a vague sense of obligation
ENIGMATIC stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.
enigmatic occult writings
CRYPTIC implies a purposely concealed meaning.
cryptic hints of hidden treasure
AMBIGUOUS applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.
an ambiguous directive
EQUIVOCAL applies to language left open to differing interpretations
with the intentionof deceiving or evading.
moral precepts with equivocal phrasing
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
FrequentlyAsked Questions About ambiguous
Does ambiguous have the same meaning as unclear?
Ambiguous has,
like many words in English, more than one possible meaning;
a quality some might refer to as ambiguous itself.
This wordmay mean
"doubtful or uncertainespecially from obscurity or indistinctness,"
‘"capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways," and "inexplicable."
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
What is the difference between ambiguous and ambivalent?
The Latin prefix ambi- means "both,"
and has led to many people confusing ambiguous and ambivalent.
Ambivalent refers to
having mixed,contradictory, or
more than one feeling about something
(the second portionof this word comes from the Latin valere,
"to be strong, be worth").
Ambiguous,on the other hand, means unclear
or able to be understood in multiple ways
(it comes in part from the Latin agere, meaning to drive").
What is the noun form of ambiguous?
Ambiguous_ is an adjective.
The noun formrelated to this word may be either ambiguity or ambiguousness.
The adverbis ambiguously.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Ambiguous
Definition:
capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways
Example:
"Trying to help a table select a wine,
a waiter offered two ambiguous adjectives: 'fleshy' and 'funky.'"
- Andrea Thompson, The New Yorker, April 12, 2010
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Usage Notes
Ambiguousvs. Ambivalent: Dispelling the Ambiguity
No ambiguity here:
while both words start with 'ambi',
they havevery different meanings
What to Know
The Latin prefix "ambi-" means both and can refer to plurality.
In ambivalent it refers to having mixed, contradictory,
or more than one feeling about something.
In ambiguous on the other hand,
it means unclearor able to be understood in multiple ways.
Ambivalent and ambiguous have Latin
to thank forthe ambi part they share.
InLatin ambi- means "both,"
butfor this pair of words,
the idea is plurality rather than exactly two
If you are ambivalent about something,
you feel two ways about it. '
Ambiguous', on the other hand,
means "unclearor capable of being understood
in two or more different ways."
Ambivalent: More than One Feeling
If you are ambivalentabout something,
your feelingsabout it are contradictory or mixed:
you feel two (or more) ways about it.
The word typically describesa person or a person's attitude:
I'm ambivalentabout going to the show.
On the one hand, it would be fun.
On the other hand, I really should stay home and get some work done.
I can't decidewhich pair of boots to buy—I'm ambivalent.
One pair is reasonably priced, but not very stylish.
The other pair is expensive but looks great.
And the third pairis attractive and a bargain,
butwould only be good for dry weather.
The public tends to have an ambivalent attitude regarding privacy.
We want our own privacy protected, but not the privacy of potential wrong-doers.
She's deeply ambivalent about the issue
and can argue both sides very effectively.
Ambiguous: More than One Meaning
Ambiguous, on the other hand, isn't a word used to describe people
—though it is usedto describe things people do or say.
It's used in cases where the meaning of something is not clear,
often because it can be understood in more than one way:
The ambiguous resultsof the study
make it plain that more research is needed.
Their offer was ambiguous;
werethey suggesting that I borrow the car, or rent it from them?
The word may isambiguous:
it can be aboutpermission —"you may go"
—or about possibility—"it may rain."
Ambivalent is an early-20th century creation
born from the field of psychology.
The noun ambivalence came first
and referred especiallyto contradictory feelings or attitudes
that occur at the same time
—such as a simultaneous attraction toward
and repulsionfrom a person, object, or action.
Ambiguous hasbeen with us since the early 16th century.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Ambiguous vs. Ambivalent
The difficulty that many people have
in distinguishingbetween ambiguous and ambivalent
shows that all that is needed to create confusion with words
is to begin them with several of the same letters.
In spite of the fact
that these two words have
histories, meanings, and origins that are fairly distinct,
people often worry about mistakenly using one for the other.
Dating to the 16th century,
ambiguous is quite a bit older than ambivalent,
which appears to have entered English
inthe jargon of early 20th-century psychologists.
Both words are in some fashion concerned with duality:
ambivalent relatesto multiple and contradictory feelings,
whereas ambiguous often describes something
with several possible meanings that create uncertainty.
The words’ etymologiesoffer some help in distinguishing between them.
Their shared prefix, ambi-, means "both."
The -valent in ambivalent comes from the Late Latin valentia ("power")
and, in combination with ambi-,
suggests the pull of two different emotions.
The -guous in ambiguous,on the other hand,
comes ultimately fromLatin agere ("to drive, to lead");
paired with ambi-,
it suggests movementin two directions at once,
and hence, a wavering or uncertainty.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Usage Notes
'Equivocate': What It Does and Doesn't Mean
'Equivocate'does not mean 'equate,'
and 'equivocation' is not 'equivalence'
To equivocate is to say something
in a way that can be understood multiple ways,
especially sothat people will think you mean one thing
when you really mean another.
It's choosingand arranging your words carefully
so that you're not quite lying
but so that your listener winds up deceived or misled.
"Did you finish the brownies?" asked Mabel the Cat.
"I make it a practice to never eat the last of anything shared," answered Harry the Dog.
"Then who ate the last brownie?" Mabel inquired.
Harry said nothing.
Harry the Dog is equivocating.
He may make it a practice to never eat the last of anything shared,
butthat doesn't mean that he never breaks that practice.
Harry did eat the last brownie, and he doesn't want to admit it.
His statement istechnically true, but it's deceptive.
Dictionary.com
PRONUNCIATIONNOTE FOR EQUIVOCAL
The four-syllable word equivocal
is sometimes said by those not entirely familiar with it
as [ih-kwiv-uh-kuh-buhl], as if it were a five-syllable word,
equivocable. (this word does not exist)
This is probably the result of conflation
with thepronunciations heard for many common
adjectivesthat do end with -cable,
as applicable, communicable, despicable, and eradicable.
However, if you split equivocal in half,
as equi- + -vocal, the relation of its spelling
to its origin and meanings becomes more clear.
Think “equal voices,” two or more voices
in conflict over a meaning, attitude, statement, etc.,
resulting in ambiguity,indecision, or deception.
Recombine equi- + -vocal,
putthe main stress on the second syllable,
and you have it: [ih-kwiv-uh-kuhl].
The form with the extra syllable is not found in educated writing,
nor are any of its matching derivatives,
like equivocably, unequivocable, and unequivocably.
These are not consideredstandard variants
and are bestavoided in writing and speech.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Choosethe Right Synonym for equivocal
OBSCURE, DARK, VAGUE, ENIGMATIC, CRYPTIC, AMBIGUOUS, EQUIVOCAL mean not clearly understandable.
OBSCURE implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
obscure poems
DARK implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinistersuggestion.
muttered dark hints of revenge
VAGUE implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.
a vague sense of obligation
ENIGMATIC stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.
enigmatic occult writings
CRYPTIC implies a purposely concealed meaning.
cryptic hints of hidden treasure
AMBIGUOUS applies to language capable of more than one interpretation. an ambiguous directive
EQUIVOCAL applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.
moral precepts with equivocal phrasing
Dictionary of Problem Words in English
ambiguous& ambivalent & equivocal
Ambiguous means
“having several possible meanings,”
“open to differing interpretations”:
“I don’t understand your answer; it’s ambiguous.”
Equivocal is closely related in meaning to ambiguous,
butit is more often used to signify
“not determined,”
“of doubtful nature,”
“open to a double interpretation”:
“The judge found the loyalty of this citizen to be equivocal.”
Ambiguous is applied only to written or spoken statements;
equivocal canapply to speech, writing, actions, and ideas.
Unequivocal, directly opposite in meaning to equivocal
means“clear,” “having only one possible meaning or interpretation”:
“His refusal to pay the bill is unequivocal .”
Common Errors In English Usage Dictionary
ambiguous& ambivalent
Even thoughthe prefix “ambi-” means “both,”
“ambiguous”has come to mean “unclear,” “undefined,”
while “ambivalent” means “torn between two opposing feelings or views.”
If your attitude cannot be defined into two polarized alternatives,
then you’reambiguous, not ambivalent.
Common Errors In English Usage Dictionary
ambivalent& indifferent
If you feel pulled in two directions about some issue,
you’re ambivalent about it;
but if you have no particular feelings about it, you’re indifferent.
