Usage of “tenebrous” [closed]

Question

Can the word tenebrous be used to mean ambiguous?

Your statement is ambiguous.

Your statement is tenebrous.

You could. But I wouldn't. If you are arguing ambiguity, tenebrous is certainly not the word to use.
You can but it wouldn't make sense without a lot of context. your use of 'tenebrous' could only be metaphorical, and it would imply 'difficult to understand' which is not the same as 'ambiguous'. Are you trying for 'unclear'? 'vague'? 'underspecified'?
If you want a metaphorical synonym for ambiguous, you should use cloudy. People won't understand what you mean if you use tenebrous.

bib · Answer 1 · 2012-08-03 13:59:48Z

up vote 2 down vote

MW offers as one of the definitions of tenebrous:

hard to understand: obscure

I find the metaphorical reference to darkness appealing.

answered Aug 3 '12 at 13:59

bib
10.4k1828

Cool Elf · Answer 2 · 2012-08-03 14:04:04Z

up vote 3 down vote

"Tenebrous" mostly means obscurity or darkness. Thus it implies lack of clarity of expression.

On the other hand, "ambiguous" usually indicates the presence of two or more meanings.

To answer your question, yes, "tenebrous" can be used instead, but it wouldn't be very accurate.

answered Aug 3 '12 at 14:04

Cool Elf
6,9921318

	I wouldn't use it. If something is ambiguous, I wont say it's shadowy, unless we are talking of Orcus:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orcus_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons) – Noah Aug 3 '12 at 16:29
	I think you mean "obscure or dark," not "obscurity or darkness." Tenebrous is an adjective, after all. – Robusto Aug 9 '12 at 19:16

closed as general reference by tchrist, cornbread ninja 麵包忍者, JSBձոգչ, Mark Beadles, Robusto Aug 9 '12 at 19:17