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
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
Yet before the press arrived, Trump shared a different, less equivocal message with El Salvador’s dictatorial president, Nayib Bukele, who has already built sprawling maximum-security complexes in service of Trump’s scheme to deport noncitizens out of legal reach.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 17 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
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
Yet before the press arrived, Trump shared a different, less equivocal message with El Salvador’s dictatorial president, Nayib Bukele, who has already built sprawling maximum-security complexes in service of Trump’s scheme to deport noncitizens out of legal reach.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 17 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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Adding to the lore, Springer was hit by a pitch in his right knee late during Game 5 in Seattle, a Mariners victory that put them up 3-2 and was questionable for the rest of the series.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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These are winnable games if everyone executes on the Carolina side, but Young being questionable for both (potentially) makes the outlook kind of up in the air.—
Mike Kaye
October 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One of the bigger headlines going into Saturday has been the ambiguous departure of Auburn captain and running back Damari Alston.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
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How this will work in practice is also ambiguous, as well as who will keep the peace.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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People hesitated, unsure of how to play with something new without looking foolish.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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As groceries get more expensive and Americans remain unsure about their economic future, shoppers are gravitating toward a tried-and-true budget meal.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Nothing can be done, at this point, about the dubious premise that mainstream Jews and gentiles in 2020s Los Angeles occupy separate social worlds.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Trump’s leniency toward dubious white-collar figures also extends well beyond the crypto realm.—
Evan Hughes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Strange statues and cryptic riddles in Italian or Latin appear around every corner, making each visit feel like a discovery that the whole family can enjoy.—
Fulvio De Bonis,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
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Danity Kane has revealed dates for a collection of reunion performances with cryptic messaging.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Swift said that the album, which has received several glowing reviews as well as numerous ambivalent critiques, has been embraced by the Swiftie fandom.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
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Like the operas Li recalled, this moment is characterized by a kind of emotional extravagance that does not permit the ambivalent second thought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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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Both versions showcase the song’s sharp social critique and conflicted pride more effectively than the final megahit version.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
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Don Roberson is more conflicted.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Equivocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocal. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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