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
- popjoying
- popjoys
- poplar
- poplar and willow borer
- poplar birch
- poplar borer
- poplar box
- poplar canker
- poplar goat moth
- poplar hawk moth
- poplar leaf fig
- poplar tentmaker
- poplar vagabond aphid
- poplar worm
- poplar-leaved birch
- poplared
- Poplarism
- poplars
- Pople
- poplin
- poplins
- popliteal
- popliteal muscle
- popliteal notch
- poplitei