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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of equivocal
But the text of his Fox News piece is more equivocal than its top lines would suggest.
—
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
This qualifies as resilience, though of an equivocal sort.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025
Although surveys in most European countries indicate more people are sympathetic to the Palestinians than with the Israelis, more still are either equivocal or indifferent.
—Toby Greene, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2017
The Biden administration will need to offer North Korea a more full-throated, less equivocal olive branch to transform the vicious cycle of provocation into a virtuous cycle of accommodation.
—Frank Aum, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
This qualifies as resilience, though of an equivocal sort.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025
Although surveys in most European countries indicate more people are sympathetic to the Palestinians than with the Israelis, more still are either equivocal or indifferent.
—Toby Greene, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2017
The Biden administration will need to offer North Korea a more full-throated, less equivocal olive branch to transform the vicious cycle of provocation into a virtuous cycle of accommodation.
—Frank Aum, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocal
Adjective
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Burks had been questionable earlier in the day due to back discomfort.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
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The star guard was listed as questionable for this game against the Pelicans and will make his return to the court.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That would be Mark Rylance as Henry’s lord privy seal, Thomas Cromwell, an endlessly fascinating and ambiguous figure—brilliant, scheming, moral—whom Rylance animates with gravity and kaleidoscopic skill.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
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An unlikely ally to Tanner and Luca as tensions rise, but loyalties remain ambiguous.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When breaches do occur, the notifications are often vague or slow to arrive, leaving users unaware of the risks they have been exposed to—and unsure of how to respond effectively.—
Alex Vakulov,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Despite this, physicists have long been unsure exactly how most flashes get started.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The content creator’s posts regarding the incident were labeled as dubious, even after the publication of the full footage of the incident.—
Javier Bastardo,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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However, that math is dubious, because tariffs are designed to shift Americans’ purchasing behavior to buy products that are made in the United States — and avoid paying tariffs.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And this looks to have that signature Souls flavor both in terms of combat and cryptic storytelling.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Breakup rumors swirled around the Australian tennis star, 29, and his influencer girlfriend over the weekend after eagle-eyed fans noticed cryptic messaging on their respective social media accounts across Instagram and TikTok.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Toddlers are often ambivalent about growing up and leaving their babyhood behind, and for this reason, change can be hard for them, says Dr. Widome.—
Laura Broadwell,
Parents,
18 Mar. 2025
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This time the response to Fetterman’s pilgrimage, which caught most senior Democrats by surprise, was more ambivalent.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These baseless federal cases were pursued 3,000 miles away from where OZY was based, and things went from bad to worse when a conflicted and unethical judge took control.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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In both songs, each woman acknowledges their conflicted familial heritage, and finds redemption through the power of country music, the tradition at the heart of nearly all American popular song. 33.—
Kristen S. Hé,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And the partnership comes as TikTok’s future in the U.S. is uncertain.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
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Aside from the retroactive tariffs expected to be announced this afternoon by the White House, not only is the imposition of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian highly uncertain, but their possible nature remains inscrutable.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Equivocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocal. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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