different between ambiguous vs ambivalent

English

Etymology

From Latin ambiguus (“moving from side to side, of doubtful nature”), from ambigere (“to go about, wander, doubt”), from ambi- (“around, about, on both sides”) + agere (“to drive, move”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æm?b??ju?s/

Adjective

ambiguous (comparative more ambiguous, superlative most ambiguous)

1. Open to multiple interpretations.

   Synonym: equivocal

   Antonym: unambiguous

2. (obsolete, of persons) Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.
   • 1662 Thomas Salusbury

     And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute....

Related terms

• ambages
• ambiguity
• ambiguate
• ambiguation
• disambiguation

Translations

See also

• contradictory
• mistakable
• confusing

Further reading

• ambiguous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ambiguous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “ambiguous”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

English

Etymology

Back-formation from ambivalence, from German Ambivalenz, from Latin ambi- (“in two ways”) + vale? (“be strong”); equivalent to ambi- +? -valent.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /æm?b?v.?.l?nt/

Adjective

ambivalent (comparative more ambivalent, superlative most ambivalent)

1. Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, or motivations.
2. Alternately having one opinion or feeling, and then the opposite.

Usage notes

Ambivalent is commonly used to denote lacking emotion instead of having conflicting emotions. More appropriate alternatives would be indifferent and apathetic.

Synonyms

• (simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing feelings): conflicted, uncertain, undecided, unresolved
• (alternately feeling opposing feelings): vacillating, fluctuating, wavering

Related terms

Translations

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from German ambivalent.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??m.bi.va??l?nt/
• Hyphenation: am?bi?va?lent
• Rhymes: -?nt

Adjective

ambivalent (comparative ambivalenter, superlative ambivalentst)

1. ambivalent (simultaneously experiencing conflicting drives) [from early 20th c.]

Inflection

Derived terms

• ambivalentie

French

Etymology

From German ambivalent, from Latin ambi- + Latin val?ns, the latter from the verb vale?

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.bi.va.l??/

Adjective

ambivalent (feminine singular ambivalente, masculine plural ambivalents, feminine plural ambivalentes)

1. ambivalent
2. ambiguous, equivocal

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ambiva?l?nt/

Adjective

ambivalent (comparative ambivalenter, superlative am ambivalentesten)

1. ambivalent

Declension

Related terms

• Ambivalenz

Further reading

• “ambivalent” in Duden online

Romanian

Etymology

From French ambivalent

Adjective

ambivalent m or n (feminine singular ambivalent?, masculine plural ambivalen?i, feminine and neuter plural ambivalente)

1. ambivalent

Declension