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
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
Some conservative deficit hawks are much less equivocal.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
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
Some conservative deficit hawks are much less equivocal.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocal
Adjective
-
Kings forward Trey Lyles was cleared to play after being listed as questionable with lower back soreness.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Some questionable late-race maneuvering saw Hamilton finish tenth, nine spots back of McLaren’s Lando Norris, eight spots behind longtime rival Verstappen, and seven spots worse than former Mercedes-AMG Petronas teammate, George Russell.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Recent antagonism toward the government workforce, however, has targeted a particular type: the office-dweller, the laptop-user, the knowledge worker who is possibly remote, possibly dead, whose products are indeterminate and, therefore, of dubious value.—
Charlie Tyson,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
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During his long television career, Oz's promotion of dubious health products has gotten him into hot water.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Bachelor alum took to social media on Wednesday, March 19, with a cryptic message seemingly responding to her ex-boyfriend Brendan Morais’ hard launch with his new girlfriend Serene Russell.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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The episode ends with a cryptic phone call to Luca from a family member, hinting at their ties to the resort.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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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Executive order spurs uncertain moment The executive order comes as the Cass County Historical Society is about seven months into its year-long grant.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
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Tshisekedi and Kagame held a surprise face-to-face meeting in Qatar on March 18, but the prospect of a peaceful resolution is still uncertain.—
Emmet Livingstone,
The Dial,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Equivocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocal. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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