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
tergiversated
verb
as in weaseled
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
- weaseled
- hemmed and hawed
- pussyfooted
- shook
- hedged
- waffled
- ducked
- beat about the bush
- equivocated
- dodged
- straddled the fence
- caviled
- beat around the bush
- evaded
- fudged
- eluded
- shunned
- skirted
- eschewed
- cavilled
- yo-yoed
- flip-flopped
- bypassed
- sidestepped
- circumvented
- shirked
- quibbled
- straddled