as in explicit
so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning
those who believe that the language of the Bible is univocal: it is never metaphorical but intended to be taken literally
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Recent Examples of univocal
Similarly, the dozens of people whom Greaves interviews in the film aren’t delivering a single and univocal history of the Harlem Renaissance but a polyphonic transmission of it.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
At a press event this week, the new Paramount leadership expressed their univocal support for theatrical movies.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
An understanding of user diversity is often unexplored territory for brands, requiring a shift from univocal to multi-frequency communication that constantly and comprehensively reignites connection with targets, drawing them in and reaffirming values, proving to be a true asset.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 26 Nov. 2024
Her inability to distill a message from her show is a testament not so much to Jane’s insufficient writerly chops as to the challenge of wringing out a univocal meaning from biracial America.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2024
Today’s political mainstream consists of a rising univocal, powerful, and intolerant pro-war movement for which the invasion is existential.
—Tatiana Stanovaya, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2022
Yet, as with almost everything Shostakovich wrote, the score defeats a univocal interpretation, its classical four-movement structure interlaced with political, personal, and purely musical messages.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2022
Who Lived Her Songs—Cash greatly complicates the popcult caricature of country music as a univocal genre of jingoist belligerence and boosterism, as exemplified by Toby Keith, Daryl Worley, Hank Williams Jr., and the late-career Charlie Daniels.
—Chris Lehmann, The New Republic, 7 Dec. 2021
But the narrative emerging from key players in the Arab world for which Tunisia’s Arab Spring legacy presents a clear challenge — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt — was far more univocal: The events in Tunisia marked the death knell for political Islam in democracy.
—Washington Post, 27 July 2021
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
At a press event this week, the new Paramount leadership expressed their univocal support for theatrical movies.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
An understanding of user diversity is often unexplored territory for brands, requiring a shift from univocal to multi-frequency communication that constantly and comprehensively reignites connection with targets, drawing them in and reaffirming values, proving to be a true asset.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 26 Nov. 2024
Her inability to distill a message from her show is a testament not so much to Jane’s insufficient writerly chops as to the challenge of wringing out a univocal meaning from biracial America.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2024
Today’s political mainstream consists of a rising univocal, powerful, and intolerant pro-war movement for which the invasion is existential.
—Tatiana Stanovaya, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2022
Yet, as with almost everything Shostakovich wrote, the score defeats a univocal interpretation, its classical four-movement structure interlaced with political, personal, and purely musical messages.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2022
Who Lived Her Songs—Cash greatly complicates the popcult caricature of country music as a univocal genre of jingoist belligerence and boosterism, as exemplified by Toby Keith, Daryl Worley, Hank Williams Jr., and the late-career Charlie Daniels.
—Chris Lehmann, The New Republic, 7 Dec. 2021
But the narrative emerging from key players in the Arab world for which Tunisia’s Arab Spring legacy presents a clear challenge — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt — was far more univocal: The events in Tunisia marked the death knell for political Islam in democracy.
—Washington Post, 27 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for univocal
Adjective
-
The law gives immigration judges significant discretion to suspend public access to court proceedings — they are required to close hearings in matters involving spousal abuse and minor children, for example, unless there’s explicit direction from the affected people to do otherwise.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The United States and Israel have pursued a high-stakes geopolitical objective in Iran with the explicit aim of reshaping regional power balances, but the unintended consequence may be an equally profound reshaping of financial market regimes.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There is a definite buzz of excitement at the press site here at the Kennedy Space Center.—
Charlie Gile,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
-
So far, there isn’t definite evidence of a multiverse based on string theory.—
Zachary Slepian,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was suspected as part of the teenage crew that gained notoriety in January 2025 for breaking into a pair of R trains and moving them at speeds up to 30 mph along a section of express track in Brooklyn.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The 9 local and express buses combined to make up about two-thirds of VRT’s annual ridership, according to a 2019 study on the State Street corridor.—
Mark Dee
March 17,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Strong feedback is specific, behavior-based, and tied to outcomes.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Missouri Secretary of State’s office offers an online tool to help voters look up their specific polling place for this election.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He then was sent back to the IceHogs, a somewhat surprising move given the Hawks’ need for a definitive shooter outside of Bedard.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
According to Federal Donuts Founders In addition to recipes, the new Federal Donuts book also includes a definitive guide to donuts across the country.—
David Farley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Univocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/univocal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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