tergiversation
- noun
- /ˌtɜr.dʒɪ.vɚˈseɪ.ʃən/
- Formal
- The senator's tergiversation during the vote was condemned by his former allies.
Examples
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Her reputation suffered after her sudden tergiversation in support of the opposition.
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The politician's tergiversation led to a loss of trust.
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Political history is replete with examples of tergiversation in times of upheaval.
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His constant tergiversation frustrated the committee.
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Many voters felt betrayed by the politician's tergiversation on critical issues.
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Her tergiversation left her colleagues questioning her commitment to the project.
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The activist's tergiversation during the debate angered her supporters.
Synonyms
39
4.9
Stopping support or care for someone who depends on you
28
7.9
Leaving a country, group, or cause to join an opposing one
20
6.2
Leaving someone, a place, or a duty when you should stay to help
8
9.9
A decision to stop believing in a religion or a cause you once followed
1
9.9
The act of betraying your country or people by helping their enemies
Antonyms
How Disloyal
Surface Forms
Morphology
tergiversation = tergiversate (opaque) = tergivers + ation
Nominalized from the rare verb 'tergiversate', so learners cannot easily predict the political/abandonment sense from the parts alone.
Etymology
Tergiversation also comes from Latin parts tergi- ('back') and vers- ('turn'). It gives the picture of 'turning your back' on a group, so tergiversation can mean leaving your party or principles, often for your own gain.