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Ambivalence vs Vagueness - What's the difference?

ambivalence | vagueness |

As nouns the difference between ambivalence and vagueness

is that ambivalence is the coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea while vagueness is (uncountable) the condition of being unclear; vague.

ambivalence

English

Noun

  • The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.
  • A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness.

    • Usage notes

    This word is often used as to express a lack of concern about the outcome of a choice to be made [http://www.google.com.au/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-10,GGLJ:en&q=ambivalent+to+mean+indifferent]. In this case, a more appropriate word to use is indifference. The confusion is probably caused by the similarity of sounds between the two words and the passive sound of the word.

    Related terms

    * ambivalent

    vagueness

    English

    Noun

  • (uncountable) The condition of being unclear; vague.
  • (countable) Something which is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness.
  • * 1857 , Thomas Cogswell Upham, Elements of Mental Philosophy , page 329
    • If a man's deep and conscientious regard for the truth be such that he cannot, consistently with the requisitions of his moral nature, repeat to others mere vaguenesses and uncertainties, he will naturally give such strict and serious attention to the present objects of inquiry and knowledge, that they will remain in his memory afterward with remarkable distinctness and permanency.