equivocate
- to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.
Origin of equivocate
Synonyms for equivocate
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for equivocate
pussyfoot, shuffle, fence, sidestep, waffle, elude, evade, escape, prevaricate, lie, fib, flip-flop, fudge, falsify, dodge, tergiversate, palter, parry, cavil, hedgeExamples from the Web for equivocate
Contemporary Examples of equivocate
As Brookhiser fully appreciates—he does not equivocate or run from the truth—Lincoln was no radical, no abolitionist.
Historical Examples of equivocate
At least I equivocated, and to equivocate with one so loyal and simple was to deceive him.
White LiesCharles Reade
She could not equivocate, neither could she go into details of a family history.
Hester's CounterpartJean K. Baird
Why suffer that lip I have kissed a thousand times to equivocate?
The $30,000 Bequest and Other StoriesMark Twain
I could not equivocate with this woman, I could no more lie to her sorrow than to the Judgment.
The CrossingWinston Churchill
How could she equivocate, with her child lying dead in the house.
The Shadow of AshlydyatMrs. Henry Wood
equivocate
- (intr) to use vague or ambiguous language, esp in order to avoid speaking directly or honestly; hedge
Word Origin for equivocate
Word Origin and History for equivocate
early 15c., equivocaten, from Medieval Latin equivocatus, past participle of equivocare "to call by the same name," from Late Latin aequivocus (see equivocation). Related: Equivocated; equivocating.