to equivocate

Examples

• All

• During the debate, the politician tried to equivocate, avoiding a direct answer to the questions.

• Instead, she equivocates, claiming it's a states rights issue.

  Vice (2018)

• Conaglen and Weaver have an answer for the first question but equivocate on the second.

  Academic text (2018)

• U.S. officials equivocated; they never intended to use the biogrenade as described in their patent.

  Academic text (2007)

• "Some of Cox's corporate members are starting to equivocate and break ranks with the council on the embargo issue."

  Academic text (1996)

• No longer must surgeons equivocate when questioned about the surveys and evaluations.

  Academic text (2003)

• The rebels responded without equivocating that the problem cannot be solved if it is approached only in terms of redistribution.

  Academic text (1998)

• Baltimore's major German language newspaper, Deutsche Correspondent, had strongly opposed the Poe amendment but equivocated on the Straus amendment.

  Academic text (2000)

• When asked whether he would run for office again, he began to equivocate, giving vague responses that sidestepped the issue.

• Instead of providing a straightforward answer, she chose to equivocate, using generalities that left everyone confused.

Synonyms

B

to beat around the bush

vsto equivocate

• Informal

17 5.6

To avoid saying what you mean directly

uses indirect language to avoid commitment rather than purposely deceive others

F

to fudge

vsto equivocate

5 7.7

To avoid giving a clear answer or decision

uses ambiguous language to avoid commitment rather than postpone responsibility

P

to prevaricate

vsto equivocate

• Formal

3 9.1

To avoid giving a direct answer to hide the truth

uses vague language mainly to avoid commitment rather than only hide truth

S

to speak with a forked tongue

vsto equivocate

• Informal

1 9.6

Say things that are not true to trick others

uses unclear language to avoid commitment rather than to lie bluntly

P

to palter

vsto equivocate

9.9

To speak or act to hide the truth and avoid a clear answer

uses ambiguous language to avoid commitment rather than directly lying

T

to tergiversate

vsto equivocate

• Formal

9.9

To avoid a direct answer by being unclear on purpose

uses ambiguous language specifically to avoid commitment rather than just conceal facts

F

to fudge the issue

vsto equivocate

• Informal

8.4

To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear

uses unclear words to avoid commitment rather than merely delay solving

Antonyms

S

to state

∞ 1.6

To say or write something clearly and officially

C

to clarify

248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Evasive

to stonewall

• Literature

42 7.8

to prevaricate

• Formal

3 9.1

to equivocate

7 9.9

to hem and haw

• Informal

3 8.4

to explain

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology