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prevarication

[ pri-var-i-key-shuhn ]

/ prɪˌvær ɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR prevarication ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of prevaricating, or lying: Seeing the expression on his mother's face, Nathan realized this was no time for prevarication.

a false or deliberate misstatement; lie: Her many prevarications had apparently paid off; she was free to go.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

American English is not always as it appears to be ... get to know regional words in this quiz!

Question 1 of 10

A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?

Often it means something is impossible.

It’s another way to agree with someone.

It serves as an apology.

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Words nearby prevarication

prevail on, Préval, prevalence, prevalent, prevaricate, prevarication, prevaricator, prévenance, prevenient, prevenient grace, prevent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for prevarication

Mr. Converse had rather keen vision in matters of prevarication, even when the lying was done adroitly with figures.
The Landloper|Holman Day
Then, as Helene accompanied her into the ante-room, she wished to apologize for her prevarication.
A Love Episode|Emile Zola
Let us see whether we cannot defend him from this reproach of falsity and prevarication.
The Essays of Montaigne, Complete|Michel de Montaigne
"Auchinbreac was a soldier by trade and a good one too," answered M'Iver, at his usual trick of prevarication.
John Splendid|Neil Munro

I scorn a lie—my prayer is to leave every prevarication behind.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13|Elbert Hubbard

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