equivocal

Meaning

Adj

1. Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation.
2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign.

Noun

A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.

Opposite of

unequivocal, univocal, certain

Synonyms

ambiguous

dubious

doubtful

uncertain

obscure

vague

questionable

unclear

evasive

suspicious

debatable

unsure

ambivalent

precarious

misleading

borderline

iffy

infirm

insecure

mysterious

oracular

problematic

problematical

shady

sly

touch-and-go

unassertive

unassured

undecided

undependable

unestablished

unfixed

unguaranteed

unreliable

unverifiable

confutable

equivoque

incertain

polysemous

undertermined

unobjective

bifarious

plurivalent

backhanded

chancy

confusing

deceptive

diffident

doubt

dubitable

Translations

équivoque

ambiguo

zweideutig

equívoco

ambiguo

ambigu

equivoco

ambíguo

αβέβαιος

ambigu

doppeldeutig

mehrdeutig

dubbelzinnig

αμφίβολος

douteux

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈkwɪvəkəl/

Etymology

From Late Latin aequivocus + -al, from aequus + vocō. By surface analysis, equi- + vocal.