equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous or uncertain
Examples
In a meeting
“The CEO's equivocal response left everyone wondering about the merger's status.”
Over coffee
“His answer was so equivocal that I still don't know if he's coming to the party.”
Why this word
ambiguous
Equivocal suggests deliberate vagueness or hedging, while ambiguous can be unintentionally unclear
unclear
Equivocal implies intentional evasiveness with multiple interpretations, while unclear simply lacks clarity
vague
Equivocal specifically means open to multiple interpretations often deliberately, while vague means lacking detail or precision
Usage tip
Use when language is intentionally or unintentionally vague. More sophisticated than simply saying 'unclear.'
Etymology
Late Latin 'aequivocus' — of equal voice, from aequi- (equal) + vox (voice)
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Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.