equivocal
equivocal
Definition
equivo·cal (ē kwiv′ə kəl, i-)
adjective
- that can have more than one interpretation; having two or more meanings; purposely vague, misleading, or ambiguous an equivocal reply
- uncertain; undecided; doubtful an equivocal outcome
- suspicious; questionable equivocal conduct
Etymology: < LL aequivocus (see equivocate) & -al
equiv′o·cal′i·ty (-kal′ə tē) noun or equiv′o·cal·ness
equiv′o·cally adverb
equivocal
Synonyms
equivocal
Usage Examples
Preposition: about
- policy: Leffler, on the other hand, is rather more equivocal about American foreign policy.
Modifying Another Word
- very: I desire now to direct attention to the very equivocal proceedings of the Crown with regard to this society.
- still: On the phase diagram we have favored the former rather than the latter explanation, although this conclusion is still equivocal at the moment.
- rather: The answer was a rather equivocal " No " .
- often: Intradermal testing is a useful primary screening test but results are often equivocal.
- too: This seemed to him to be ' too equivocal ` .
- also: The data from repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ( rTMS ) studies in healthy volunteers is also equivocal with respect to HERA.
Preposition: with
- respect: The evidence from these evaluations is equivocal with respect to the effect of ICT on literacy.
Modifies a noun
- result: Equivocal weakly positive results were obtained in the mouse lymphoma assay.
- attitude: The many changes affecting women's property rights during the eighteenth century suggest at best an equivocal attitude to the female subject.
- response: A failure to respond, an evasive or equivocal response or a late response could allow the civil court to draw an adverse inference.
- evidence: There was equivocal evidence for a carcinogenic effect in male mice.
- position: As for the euro, it is not an equivocal position; the tests are quite clear.
- expression: Obscurity may arise from the use of equivocal expressions, of metaphorical phrases, or of eccentric words.
Used with adjective complement
- remain: The Court adopted the following: 1. The cause of an injury or an episode that cannot be explained scientifically remain equivocal.
- seem: His objections were so cautious as to seem equivocal; and so much the more destructive was the attack of the Committee's representatives.
- consider: However, this evidence should not be considered equivocal.
Browse dictionary entries near equivocal
- Equivalent Queue Extended Erlang B
- equivalent
- equivalence
- equiv
- equity risk premium
- equity REIT
- equity of redemption
- equity-linked annuity
- equity kicker
- equity financing
- equivocate
- equivocation
- equivoque
- Equuleus
- er
- Er Rif
- -er
- era
- eradiate
- eradicate
