equivocal

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 7, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>equivocal</strong> &#149; \ih-KWIV-uh-kul\&nbsp; &#149; <em>adjective</em><br /> <p><em>Equivocal</em> means "having two or more possible meanings" or "difficult to understand or explain." It can also mean "uncertain."</p> <p>// When I asked Fatima how her job was going, she gave me an <em>equivocal</em> response: "Let's just say I won't be a <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sous-chef">sous-chef</a> for much longer."</p> <p>// The most recent clinical trial produced <em>equivocal</em> results.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivocal">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"Hitchhiking—that good old sustainable form of ride-sharing—has declined in popularity in recent years, stoked by <em>equivocal</em> legislation and shifting cultural attitudes. But, with climate change becoming an increasingly urgent crisis, the need for more creative transportation options has never been more pressing." — Brendan Sainsbury, <em>Condé Nast Traveler</em>, 3 Jan. 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>If you're unsure about how to use <em>equivocal</em> properly, it may help to first remember its antonym, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unequivocal"><em>unequivocal</em></a>, which is without a doubt the more common word of the two. As <em>unequivocal</em> means "leaving no doubt" or "unquestionable," it stands to reason that <em>equivocal</em> applies to language that is open to multiple, often differing interpretations. <em>Equivocal</em> can also have a sinister slant: equivocal language is usually used to mislead or confuse, its vagueness allowing the speaker to avoid committing to a firm position or opinion, and to later <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disavow">disa