to prevaricate
3
9.1
- verb
- /prɪˈværɪˌkeɪt/
- Formal
:
prevaricar
- There is no reason to prevaricate.
- always prevaricates
Examples
-
But no matter how hard Whistling Pete expostulated, prevaricated, and fibbed, he knew the game was coming to a rapid conclusion.
Fiction book (1995) -
Seven hours have passed, he calculates: she came up with the tea and gingersnaps, prevaricating, although prevarication does not come naturally to her.
Fiction book (1998) -
I am not going to sit here and try to prevaricate to anybody about it.
Fiction book (2000) -
Stop prevaricating and answer Representative Wood!
-
In turn, Westerners hem and haw, prevaricate, and finally fold.
Academic text (2010) -
"The governor is either misinformed, ill-advised, or just deciding to prevaricate," Mr. Langford said Tuesday on the "Today" show on NBC.
Blog text (33) -
Although the South African public and the ANC rank and file, including its affiliated Communist Party and trade union wings, are keen to end Mugabe's outrages, Zuma has continued to dither and prevaricate.
Academic text (2010) -
As a judge noted in 1813: "If he (the priest) prevaricates, he violates his judicial oath... if he tells the truth, he violates his ecclesiastical oath... this is a horrible dilemma."
Academic text (1990) -
When asked about his involvement in the project, he chose to prevaricate instead of providing a straightforward answer.
-
She tends to prevaricate during interviews, often avoiding the questions about her past experience.
Synonyms
17
7.4
To avoid giving a direct answer or clear commitment
17
5.6
To avoid saying what you mean directly
7
9.9
To use unclear words to avoid giving a direct answer or telling the truth
5
7.7
To avoid giving a clear answer or decision
To avoid a direct answer by being unclear on purpose
To speak or act to hide the truth and avoid a clear answer
Antonyms
How Direct
Surface Forms
Etymology
Prevaricate comes from Latin parts like prae- and varicare that gave the image 'to walk crookedly', so a helpful picture is someone 'walking around' the truth. That's why to prevaricate means to avoid a direct answer or to hide the truth.