“The contract is ambivalent — I can't tell what it means.”
Usage Entry 1417 / 1605 60-second read
Ambivalent vs. Ambiguous
Holding mixed feelings versus open to multiple interpretations.
The comparisoni
“The contract is ambiguous — I can't tell what it means. AMBIGUOUS is unclear in meaning. AMBIVALENT is feeling two ways at once.”
The ruleii
¶
AMBIVALENT = mixed feelings. AMBIGUOUS = mixed meanings.
AMBIVALENT (Latin AMBI = both, VALENTIA = strength) — emotionally pulled in two directions. AMBIGUOUS (AMBI + AGERE = drive both ways) — a statement open to multiple readings. People are ambivalent; statements are ambiguous.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Person ambivalent. Text ambiguous.