Are Ambiguous and Ambivalent the Same?
The instructions were ambiguous, leading to confusion.
She felt ambivalent about accepting the job offer.
His feelings about the decision were very ambiguous.
The ending of the movie was somewhat ambivalent.
Both are adjectives that derive from the Latin prefix ambi-(meaning “both”), but do ambiguous and ambivalent mean the same thing?
- Saying that something is ambiguous describes it as unclear, vague, or “capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways” (Merriam-Webster).
- To be ambivalent means “having simultaneous conflicting feelings or contradictory ideas about something” (Etymonline).
The distinction between them is clearer in application:
Her account of the event was deliberately ambiguous.
She seems to feel ambivalent about her new job.
Ambiguous means cryptic or unclear, and applies more to situations than feelings.
Sentence examples with “Ambiguous” / “Ambivalent”
| Examples: “ambiguous” used in sentences |
|---|
| The paragraph is rendered ambiguous by the writer’s careless use of pronouns.
It is for the jury to decide what an ambiguous statement was intended to mean. His role has always been ambiguous. |
| Examples: “ambivalent” used in sentences |
|---|
| He has an ambivalent attitude towards her.
The party’s position on nuclear weapons is deeply ambivalent. She is deeply ambivalent about her feelings for him. |
Ambiguous, synonyms
- cryptic
- dubious
- enigmatic
- equivocal
- inconclusive
- obscure
- opaque
- puzzling
- questionable
- uncertain
- unclear
- vague
Use the ‘v’ in ambi**v**alent to remember it describes **v**arying feelings, while ambi**g**uo**us** is about thin**g**s or statements being unclear.
Ambivalent, synonyms
- contradictory
- doubtful
- equivocal
- hesitant
- mixed
- uncertain
- undecided
- unsure
Word origin
“Of doubtful or uncertain nature, open to various interpretations,” 1520s, from Latin ambiguus “having double meaning, shifting, changeable, doubtful,” an adjective derived from ambigere.
“Having simultaneous conflicting feelings or contradictory ideas about something,” 1916, originally a term in psychology; a back-formation from ambivalence. In general use by 1929.
Read about other misused words
| Commonly misused words | UK English vs. US English |
|---|---|
| former vs. latter | burned or burnt? |
| bear with vs. bare with | color or colour? |
| breathe or breath | favorite vs. favourite |
| compliment vs. complement | smelled or smelt? |
| effect vs. affect | gray or grey? |
| elude or allude | favor vs. favour |
| it’s or its | analyze or analyse? |
Work Sheet
According to the blog post, what does the word “ambiguous” primarily describe?
Which word, according to the post, is used to describe having simultaneous conflicting feelings or contradictory ideas about something?
The blog post notes that using “ambiguous” to describe a person’s feelings is:
Based on the study tip in the post, what can the ‘v’ in ‘ambivalent’ help you remember?
According to the post, which word applies more to situations or statements being unclear rather than a person’s feelings?
The instructions were ______, leading to confusion.
She felt ______ about accepting the job offer.
Using “ambivalent” for an unclear plot point in a movie is ______.
His attitude towards her was deeply ______. (Hint: Describes feelings)
The paragraph is rendered ______ by the writer’s careless use of pronouns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ambiguous & ambivalent the same?
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What does ambiguous mean?
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What does ambivalent mean?
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Can ambiguous describe feelings?
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Can ambivalent describe situations?
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Yash, D. "What’s the Difference Between Ambiguous & Ambivalent?." Grammarflex, Jun 14, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-difference-between-ambiguous-ambivalent/.
Sources
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Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “ambivalent” and “ambiguous”. Accessed 19 April 2024. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of ambivalent.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/ambivalent. Accessed 19 April 2024.
