ambiguity

noun

ˌam-bə-ˈgyü-ə-tē How to pronounce ambiguity (audio)
Definition of ambiguitynext
as in ambiguousness
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the deceased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ambiguity They are expected to project certainty while navigating ambiguity, to lead decisively while carrying the weight of consequences alone. — William Jones, USA Today, 30 June 2026 The report released last year from the Office of Performance Evaluations found the money’s use wasn’t addressed in state law, which led to inconsistencies and ambiguity on what it can be used for. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026 Demetris Papadimitropoulos on Tennessee Williams, Daniel Ciba’s Blue Roses and the ambiguity of proof. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 To remove the ambiguity and resulting food waste, Assembly Bill 660 was signed into law and goes into effect July 1, which ultimately will reduce the phrases allowed on packages to just two. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambiguity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambiguity
  1. mysteriousness
  2. uncertainty
Noun
  • That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.
    — Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of mysteriousness
Noun
  • Adding to the uncertainty, Congress allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire last year, which caused insurance premiums to spike for millions more people.
    — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • This work of checking in on team members or translating ambiguity, especially during periods of uncertainty, has been dubbed the empathy or care tax.
    — Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of uncertainty

Browse Nearby Words

ambients
ambiguity
ambiguous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ambiguity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambiguity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ambiguity

Nglish: Translation of ambiguity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ambiguity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All