1
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the evidence that this latest diet really results in lasting weight loss is certainly equivocal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
he responded to the reporter's questions with equivocal answers or refusals to comment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings
a number of people are clearly equivocal about allowing casino gambling in the state
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of equivocal
And yet, by the time of Borlaug’s death, his accomplishments were looking increasingly equivocal.
—
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
For added drama, there was a disorderly stampede out of Treasuries and the U.S. dollar , banishing hope and leaving an upside air pocket that was partially filled when buyers seized on the Trump administration’s equivocal feints toward a de-escalation of trade aggressions.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
While cancellation options are available in advance of the other three periods—broadly speaking, advertisers may back out of between 25% and 50% of their Q1, Q2 and Q3 upfront allocations—the ontological status of fall buys is a lot less equivocal.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Trump himself has been equivocal about whether the US should defend Taiwan, has threatened to withdraw troops from US allies like South Korea and Japan as leverage in trade talks, and the US military has actually moved some valuable military resources out of East Asia.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
For added drama, there was a disorderly stampede out of Treasuries and the U.S. dollar , banishing hope and leaving an upside air pocket that was partially filled when buyers seized on the Trump administration’s equivocal feints toward a de-escalation of trade aggressions.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
While cancellation options are available in advance of the other three periods—broadly speaking, advertisers may back out of between 25% and 50% of their Q1, Q2 and Q3 upfront allocations—the ontological status of fall buys is a lot less equivocal.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Trump himself has been equivocal about whether the US should defend Taiwan, has threatened to withdraw troops from US allies like South Korea and Japan as leverage in trade talks, and the US military has actually moved some valuable military resources out of East Asia.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocal
Adjective
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The wind is getting questionable.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2026
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Someone older might have questionable advice for you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Çatak’s anti-state message acquires an ambiguous power as the movie wends onward, with an enigmatic final shot that finds Aziz tasting clear-skies freedom but still from behind confines of a sort.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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Wuthering Heights simultaneously puts too much malevolence on Nelly’s shoulders while also making her final decisions sort of nonsensical, even ambiguous.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Changes to district lines weren’t always clearly communicated, and residents are understandably unsure about who represents them or how county decisions affect them now.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Police are unsure of her and Nava's whereabouts.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The three central male characters — Mike, Lou, and Orman — all converge on the archetype of the lone wolf, a dubious label the collaboration-shirking Lou has taken on in his precinct, and one his colleagues are decidedly over.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
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Lake will retain the ability to undermine the broadcasters, but her expensive, monthslong, legally dubious attempt to destroy them has so far failed.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.—
Hallie Golden,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.—
TY ONEIL,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The event evidently singled out Newsom due to his frontrunner status in very early pre-campaign polling, as well as the leading role California’s high tech industry plays in developing AI and Newsom’s somewhat ambivalent attitude toward AI’s potential effects.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Based on the public defender’s account, Bell appeared at best ambivalent in the face of blatant prosecutorial misconduct.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2025
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That time, a very disputable foul denied him.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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What happens to the funding for buses and light rail when people are afraid to ride them, and no one buys bus tickets?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Too Much Wall Art Wall art is a great way to make a space feel more complete, but don't be afraid to leave some blank space here and there.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Equivocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocal. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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