tergiversator
- noun
- /ˌtɜrɡɪˈvɜrˌseɪtər/
- Formal
:
tergiversador
- The politician was criticized as a tergiversator, never giving a straight answer at the press conference.
Examples
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Rather than addressing the issue head-on, he behaved like a true tergiversator and changed the subject.
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The tergiversator avoided answering the tough questions.
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During the interview, the candidate's tergiversator tendencies frustrated the panel seeking direct responses.
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She is often seen as a tergiversator in debates.
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During the interview, the candidate's tergiversator tendencies frustrated the panel seeking direct responses.
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The politician was criticized as a tergiversator, never giving a straight answer at the press conference.
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Rather than addressing the issue head-on, he behaved like a true tergiversator and changed the subject.
Synonyms
1
8.6
A person who gives vague answers to avoid making a clear decision
1
9.9
A person who often avoids telling the truth and gives unclear answers
A person who avoids clear answers and refuses to say yes or no
A person who avoids giving a clear yes-or-no answer
Antonyms
How Evasive
Surface Forms
Morphology
tergiversator = tergiversate (opaque) = tergivers + ator
The root 'tergivers' is not a recognizable English word, and the meaning of 'tergiversator' is not directly derivable from its components.
Etymology
The word tergiversator comes from the Latin parts tergum ('back') and versare ('to turn'), the same turning idea you see in reverse. So a tergiversator is someone who 'turns their back' on a question and avoids giving a clear, direct answer.