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missverständlich

ambiguous, liable to be misunderstood

adjective mis-fer-SHTENT-likh Rare
Communication Speech

Usage Note

Missverständlich describes communication that can easily be misinterpreted. Eine missverständliche Formulierung — a wording open to misunderstanding. Often used when apologizing or correcting: das war missverständlich ausgedrückt — that was expressed in a way that could be misunderstood.

Examples

"Diese Aussage war missverständlich und musste klargestellt werden."

Natural Translation

This statement was ambiguous and had to be clarified.

Literal Translation

This statement was ambiguous and had-to clarified become.

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