Synonyms for equivocate
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive; to vacillate in one's answers, responding with equivoques.
- v. 2
To render equivocal or ambiguous.
Related words
- Word family
- equivocal
Forms
- Past participle
- equivocated
e.g. equivocated → evaded, shuffled, prevaricated, adumbrated…
Choose the right word
He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- evade Being born of it, you cannot evade its principles.
- dodge I was somehow able to dodge the attack with ease.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| equivocate | steady | |
| evade | steady | |
| prevaricate | rising | |
| adumbrate | steady | |
| palter | steady | |
| tergiversate | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- fence1, dodge1, hedge1, evade2, fudge1, cavil
- 6 letters
- palter
- 7 letters
- shuffle2, quibble2
- 9 letters
- adumbrate
- 11 letters
- prevaricate4
- 12 letters
- tergiversate
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (evade2 = 2 syllables).