palter

[pawl-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to talk or act insincerely or deceitfully; lie or use trickery.

2. to bargain with; haggle.

3. to act carelessly; trifle.

palter

/ ˈpɔːltə /

verb

1. to act or talk insincerely

2. to haggle

Other Word Forms

• palterer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of palter¹

1530–40 in sense “to speak indistinctly,” perhaps alteration of falter in same sense, with p- from palsy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of palter¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

You can equivocate, or dissemble, or palter, or mislead, or prevaricate, or fib, or perjure.

Read more on Washington Post

Which brings us to Thursday’s main event, a hearing before the Senate committee that has already seen two Democratic truth-seekers demonstrate a Trumpian zest for paltering with the truth.

Read more on Washington Post

But if you say, "I drove it yesterday in 10-below temperatures and it drove well," even if you know it's been to the shop twice in the last month, that's paltering.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Though not a new term -- he says it's borrowed from the field of philosophy -- Rogers and his co-authors have co-opted the concept of paltering for the field of negotiation.

Read more on Washington Post

Rogers says the findings can also serve as a reminder, to everyone, to watch out for those who may try to use paltering against them.

Read more on Time