equivocate

verb

equiv·​o·​cate i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt 

equivocated; equivocating

intransitive verb

1

: to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive

2

: to avoid committing oneself in what one says

equivocator

i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• fudge
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• tergiversate
• waffle
• weasel

Choose the Right Synonym for equivocate

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth.

lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

Examples of equivocate in a Sentence

The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job.

When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.

Recent Examples on the Web

For all the shortcomings in this nationwide effort, most Germans today set an example of remorse that shames Turkish nationalist leaders equivocating about the Armenian genocide, or rightist Japanese politicians visiting the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo that honors Class A war criminals. —Gary J. Bass, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Less than 10 minutes into a British parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, during which a Shein representative equivocated on questions relating to the e-tail Goliath’s supply chain and a potential public float, a visibly frustrated Member of Parliament made his feelings known in no uncertain terms. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025

And one of the things there is that there's a perception, fair or otherwise, that Democrats have equivocated about political violence from anti-Israel protestors, more recently, the killing of United Health CEO, Brian Thompson. —ABC News, 5 Jan. 2025

Zoom in: Europe may also have to figure out how to bear the primary burden for arming Ukraine — and how to ensure its own security — if Trump equivocates on NATO's mutual defense pledge. —Dave Lawler, Axios, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for equivocate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

equivocate

verb

equiv·​o·​cate i-ˈkwiv-ə-ˌkāt 

equivocated; equivocating

: to use equivocal language especially to deceive

also : to avoid giving a definite answer

equivocation

-ˌkwiv-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

equivocator

-ˈkwiv-ə-ˌkāt-ər 

noun