tergiversate
verb
ter·gi·ver·sate ˈtər-jə-vər-ˌsāt 
ˌtər-ˈji-vər-ˌsāt,
-ˈgi-;
ˌtər-jə-ˈvər-
tergiversated; tergiversating
intransitive verb
: to engage in tergiversation
tergiversator
ˈtər-jə-vər-ˌsā-tər
noun ˌtər-ˈji-vər-ˌsā-
-ˈgi-;
ˌtər-jə-ˈvər-
Synonyms
- equivocate
- fudge
- hedge
- pussyfoot
- waffle
- weasel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
shamelessly tergiversating, the witness replied, “Well, it depends upon what your definition of ‘truth’ is”
Word History
Etymology
Latin tergiversatus, past participle of tergiversari to show reluctance, from tergum back + versare to turn, frequentative of vertere to turn — more at worth
First Known Use
1590, in the meaning defined above
tergiversate
verb
as in to weasel
to avoid giving a definite answer or position shamelessly tergiversating, the witness replied, "Well, it depends upon what your definition of 'truth' is" Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- weasel
- equivocate
- pussyfoot
- hedge
- dodge
- waffle
- shake
- duck
- beat about the bush
- evade
- hem and haw
- cavil
- elude
- shun
- beat around the bush
- fudge
- straddle the fence
- skirt
- flip-flop
- eschew
- shirk
- circumvent
- sidestep
- bypass
- yo-yo
- quibble
- straddle
- quarter line
- quarter nelson
- quarter nettings
- quarter note
- quarter of
- quarter panel
- quarter panels
- quarter past
- quarter pieces
- quarter point
- quarter post
- quarter race
- quarter rack
- quarter rail
- quarter rest
- quarter rope
- quarter round
- quarter run
- quarter screw
- quarter seal
- quarter section
- quarter sessions
- quarter sling
- quarter snail
- quarter strap