to palter
1
9.9
- verb
- /ˈpɔltər/
- The politician continued to palter during the debate, avoiding direct answers to the questions.
Examples
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And be these juggling fiends no more believed… that palter with us in a double sense.
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Now I must to the young man send humble treaties, dodge and palter in the shifts of lowness, who with half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleas'd, making and marring fortunes.
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Once Ferru (whom he *shock* likes) showed his not-surprising mastery of the court, ol' Gmouth began to prattle and palter about the terrible variation in court speed and called for homogenization of the same.
Blog text (28) -
When asked about his plans, he chose to palter, giving vague responses instead of specifics.
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She has a tendency to palter when discussing her feelings, never revealing her true thoughts.
Synonyms
17
5.6
To avoid saying what you mean directly
10
7.7
To avoid giving a clear answer or decision
7
9.9
To use unclear words to avoid giving a direct answer or telling the truth
6
8.6
To avoid making a clear decision or giving a direct answer
3
9.1
To avoid giving a direct answer to hide the truth
1
9.9
To avoid a direct answer by being unclear on purpose
1
8.4
To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear
1
9.6
Say things that are not true to trick others
To speak in a vague or praising way to avoid answering
Antonyms
How Evasive
Surface Forms
Etymology
Palter began as a word for cheating or haggling in a bargain, like 'to haggle' or 'to trick' someone over a deal. So today to palter means to use unclear or half-true words to avoid a direct answer and to 'mislead' someone.