Synonym Chooser

How does the verb palter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of palter are equivocate, fib, lie, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

When is equivocate a more appropriate choice than palter?

While the synonyms equivocate and palter are close in meaning, 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

When is it sensible to use fib instead of palter?

The words fib and palter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When can lie be used instead of palter?

Although the words lie and palter have much in common, lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another, in the sense of palter?

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

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of palter Rather than wait to share the witches’ paltering pronouncements with Lady M (Indira Varma) in person, the thane of Glamis chooses to send word to his wife in advance of his return from battle. Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palter
Verb
  • The Kraken, for example, dealt for Kaapo Kakko before the holiday freeze, adding an upside forward with precisely the sort of profile that this Kraken team needs long-term, in exchange for a 4/5 caliber defender in Will Borgen.
    Scott Powers, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
  • The Astros recently dealt star outfielder Kyle Tucker with one year left on his contract instead of paying him.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The appeals panel found that a defense secretary has the power to prevent a war court overseer from negotiating a plea deal as a general principle, just not retroactively.
    Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Jan. 2025
  • In other markets, inventory will be lower and there will be less room to negotiate.
    Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers — or face the consequences of its inaction.
    Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • And since college athletes, save for Dartmouth College men’s basketball players, are not unionized, the NCAA can’t collectively bargain an age ceiling.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That’s a 30% decline since 2012, when there were more than 100 million pay-TV homes in the U.S. Consumers also can cancel streaming services with a click of a button — without haggling with a customer service representative at a pay-TV company call center.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
  • As the Senate haggles over how to fill Trump’s Cabinet, many of his allies are campaigning for the nominations.
    Adriana Gomez Licon, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near palter

Cite this Entry

“Palter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palter. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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