equivocation
- noun
- /ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃən/
- Formal
- In a debate, he often resorted to equivocation instead of addressing the questions directly.
Let the American people know what what he wants quite without equivocation and without doubt and don't back down.
- Let the American people know what what he wants quite without equivocation and without doubt and don't back down.
- So the equivocation of those things is this ambiguity used to deceive.
- So isn't there a equivocation between the word selfish and selfishness, the action you're on?
- When we say something is an equivocal term or there's an equivocation on, on that term or that it's ambiguous.
- What's going on here is an equivocation in in a different way.
- This is a return at the core of a web of equivocation and qualification to something that remains non negotiable.
Examples
-
At the trial, Ledbetter's police interrogation was trotted out, his lies and equivocations.
Fiction book (1995) -
On January 11, 1992, Bendjedid resigned, his departure ending the equivocation about who was in charge.
Academic text (1997) -
I am in total agreement without equivocation that security measures have got to remain tough.
-
After some equivocation on the part of the concerned parties, a meeting was finally held that night.
Academic text (1997) -
Your opponent claims this is an equivocation.
-
As a medical professional, I can state without equivocation that truly obese people are not healthy.
Blog text (3) -
Please, Doctor, without equivocation.
-
Macbeth is a play of shadows and echoes, of ambivalence and equivocation in words and in actions.
Academic text (1997) -
Soon after the convention, Roosevelt telegraphed Addams his assurance that "without qualification or equivocation."
Academic text (2013) -
I can say without equivocation that the 1985 Bears, the Super Bowl champs, the one in January of '86 were the best single-season team that I think has ever been in the NFL.
Synonyms
An indirect statement that hides an unpleasant truth
A statement that avoids giving a clear answer
An action or statement that hides the real reason behind something
A clever trick used to avoid answering a question
Confusing speech that hides the truth, often to avoid a direct answer
Language that hides the truth by using vague or confusing words
To avoid telling the truth by being vague or misleading
Avoiding giving a direct answer so people do not know what you really think
Saying or doing things in a roundabout way instead of being direct
Using many words to avoid saying something directly
Not telling the whole truth to hide facts or avoid blame
Avoiding a clear answer by speaking in vague words
Making vague statements to avoid giving a direct answer
A situation where something has more than one meaning and causes confusion
Antonyms
How Evasive
- Literature
- Formal
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
equivocation = equivocate (semi-transparent) = equivocate + ion
Formed by the regular noun-forming suffix '-ion' added to the verb 'equivocate', giving the action or process.
Etymology
Equivocation comes from Latin parts aequi- ('equal') and vocare ('to call'), like the English words equal and vocal. So it is like 'calling two things the same', which is why equivocation means using unclear or double-meaning language to hide or avoid a direct answer.