equivocate

verb

equiv·o·cate i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt How to pronounce equivocate (audio)

equivocated; equivocating

intransitive verb

: to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive

: to avoid committing oneself in what one says

equivocator

i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce equivocate (audio)

noun

Example Sentences

The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job. When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.

Recent Examples on the Web That reflects a frustration that France and Germany have often been seen to equivocate in their support for Kyiv.

Alexander Smith, NBC News, 8 July 2022 This is not presented to serve as an excuse, nor to try and equivocate industries that are vastly different from one another.

Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 5 June 2022 Admire or equivocate, behold in reverie or with suspicion.

Washington Post, 29 May 2022 In a 5,000-word article published in July 2021, Putin does not equivocate in articulating his worldview of historical grievance which includes Ukraine as an integral part of the Russian Nation.

Chris Massaro, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2021 In a battle between freedom and authoritarianism, Europe can’t equivocate.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, WSJ, 10 Oct. 2021 At its most political, Kuriki-Olivo’s work is also at its most literal, and tends not to equivocate.

New York Times, 18 Aug. 2021 Don’t apologize or equivocate about your job search.

Gerry Valentine, Forbes, 26 May 2021 As the fall approaches, first-year students who have already paid their admission deposits have been left in the dark as schools equivocate.

NBC News, 20 May 2021 See More

equivocate

verb

as in to weasel

to avoid giving a definite answer or position the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

weasel
shake
dodge
pussyfoot
evade
waffle
hedge
fudge
eschew
duck
elude
shun
tergiversate
beat about the bush
shirk
sidestep
hem and haw
cavil
straddle the fence
quibble
beat around the bush
circumvent
flip-flop
skirt
bypass
straddle
yo-yo

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of equivocate are fib, lie, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

While in some cases nearly identical to equivocate, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

While the synonyms lie and equivocate are close in meaning, lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

The synonyms palter and equivocate are sometimes interchangeable, but palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

单词	equivocate
释义	equivocate verb equiv·o·cate i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt equivocated; equivocating intransitive verb 1 : to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive 2 : to avoid committing oneself in what one says equivocator i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkā-tər noun Synonyms fudge hedge pussyfoot tergiversate waffle weasel See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job. When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate. Recent Examples on the Web That reflects a frustration that France and Germany have often been seen to equivocate in their support for Kyiv. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 8 July 2022 This is not presented to serve as an excuse, nor to try and equivocate industries that are vastly different from one another. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 5 June 2022 Admire or equivocate, behold in reverie or with suspicion. Washington Post, 29 May 2022 In a 5,000-word article published in July 2021, Putin does not equivocate in articulating his worldview of historical grievance which includes Ukraine as an integral part of the Russian Nation. Chris Massaro, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2021 In a battle between freedom and authoritarianism, Europe can’t equivocate. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, WSJ, 10 Oct. 2021 At its most political, Kuriki-Olivo’s work is also at its most literal, and tends not to equivocate. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2021 Don’t apologize or equivocate about your job search. Gerry Valentine, Forbes, 26 May 2021 As the fall approaches, first-year students who have already paid their admission deposits have been left in the dark as schools equivocate. NBC News, 20 May 2021 See More Word History First Known Use 1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1 equivocate verb as in to weasel to avoid giving a definite answer or position the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance weasel shake dodge pussyfoot evade waffle hedge fudge eschew duck elude shun tergiversate beat about the bush shirk sidestep hem and haw cavil straddle the fence quibble beat around the bush circumvent flip-flop skirt bypass straddle yo-yo Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of equivocate are fib, lie, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another. equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors While in some cases nearly identical to equivocate, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth. fibbed about the price of the new suit While the synonyms lie and equivocate are close in meaning, lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty. lied about where he had been The synonyms palter and equivocate are sometimes interchangeable, but palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises. a swindler paltering with his investors Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue. during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate
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equivocate

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

verb

Synonym Chooser