weasel

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noun

wea·​sel ˈwē-zəl 

plural weasels

1

or plural weasel : any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (such as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly brown with white or yellowish underparts, and in northern forms turn white in winter compare ermine sense 1a

2

: a light self-propelled tracked vehicle built either for traveling over snow, ice, or sand or as an amphibious vehicle

3

: a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person

Illustration of weasel

• weasel 1

weasel

2 of 2

verb

weaseled; weaseling ˈwēz-liŋ 

ˈwē-zə-

intransitive verb

1

: to use weasel words : equivocate

2

: to escape from or evade a situation or obligation

—often used with out

transitive verb

: to manipulate shiftily

Synonyms

Verb

• equivocate
• fudge
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• tergiversate
• waffle

Examples of weasel in a Sentence

Verb

the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Observations on the efficiency of the Japanese weasel, Mustela sibirica itatsi Temminck and Schlegel, as a rat-control agent in the Ryukyus PLOS ONE. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

Peter Sarsgaard was turning his character into a despicable little weasel through a masterclass of smirks. —Brian Grubb, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024

Verb

But when Douglas doesn’t invite her to the business dinner, the show suddenly takes a turn into wacky sitcom territory, with Maxine trying to weasel her way into Douglas’s business to meet and invite the Prince to the Beach Ball. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024

These weeds—the ones that do the impossible and weasel their way through cracks in the patio, concrete, pavers, and driveway—can be so difficult to remove since most weeding tools don’t fit in between the cracks. —Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 3 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel

Verb

weasel word

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1900, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing weasel

• bridled weasel
• least weasel
• long-tailed weasel
• short-tailed weasel
• weasel his way into
• weasel into
• weasel out of
• weasel word

Kids Definition

weasel

noun

wea·​sel

ˈwē-zəl

plural weasels

1

or plural weasel : any of various small slender active mammals that are related to the minks, eat small animals (as mice and birds), and in northern regions turn white in winter compare ermine sense 1

2

: a sneaky, untrustworthy, or dishonest person