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Definitions

beat around the bush

VERB
elude
Synonyms
STRONGEST
baffle confound dodge evade flee foil frustrate outrun outwit puzzle shun stall stonewall thwart
STRONG
bilk circumvent ditch double duck eschew fly shirk shuck shy stump
WEAK
be beyond someone cop out get around get away from give the runaround give the slip give wide berth to hem and haw not touch pass the buck pass up run around stay shy of steer clear of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abet aid assist clarify clear up encourage enlighten explain face help meet support
WEAK
attract confront encounter entice invite take on
VERB
equivocate
Synonyms
STRONG
cavil dodge elude escape eschew evade falsify fence fib flip-flop fudge hedge jive lie palter parry prevaricate pussyfoot quibble shuck shuffle sidestep stonewall tergiversate waffle
WEAK
beg the question blow hot and cold cloud the issue cop a plea cop out cover up double-talk give the runaround hem and haw mince words pass the buck run around sit on the fence tell white lie tergiverse weasel
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest confront encounter face meet release take on tell the truth
WEAK
speak on
VERB
hedge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
fudge sidestep waffle
STRONG
duck equivocate evade flip-flop jive prevaricate pussyfoot quibble shuck shuffle stall stonewall temporize tergiversate
WEAK
be noncommittal blow hot and cold cop a plea cop out give the runaround hem and haw pass the buck run around shilly-shally sit on the fence tergiverse
Antonyms
STRONG
face meet
WEAK
confront release
VERB
hem and haw
Synonyms
WEAK
back and fill beg the question dance around equivocate euphemize fudge and mudge hum and haw mince words shilly-shally tapdance
VERB
prevaricate
Synonyms
STRONG
belie cavil con distort dodge equivocate evade exaggerate fabricate falsify fib garble hedge invent jive lie misrepresent misspeak palter quibble shift shuffle tergiversate
WEAK
beg the question phony up put on
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest confront face meet order tell the truth
VERB
pussyfoot
Synonyms
STRONG
avoid creep dodge equivocate evade glide hedge lurk prevaricate prowl shuffle sidestep skirt skulk slide slink slip sneak steal tergiversate tiptoe
WEAK
be noncommittal duck the issues hem and haw play it close to the vest sit on the fence tergiverse tread warily watch one's step weasel
Antonyms
STRONG
confront face meet take on
WEAK
plod
VERB
stall
Synonyms
STRONGEST
halt hamper hinder interrupt postpone put off slow stay stop suspend
STRONG
arrest brake check die equivocate fence filibuster hedge prevaricate quibble stand still stonewall tarry temporize
WEAK
avoid the issue drag one's feet hold off not move play for time shut down slow down stand off stand still take one's time
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist carry out continue do encourage expedite forward help permit promote push
WEAK
further
VERB
weasel
Synonyms
STRONG
balk dodge duck hedge renege shuck sidestep waffle
WEAK
circumvent cop out dance around an issue elude equivocate eschew flee get around give the runaround hem and haw lay low pussyfoot put off shirk slip out sneak away tap dance worm one's way out of
Antonyms
STRONG
confront face meet

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush... I was not prepared," she told fans during a Q&A, adding: "She's completely and utterly worth it all though. Every single hard moment!"

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

“I’m not going to beat around the bush, man: We want to win the Super Bowl,” wide receiver Garrett Wilson said.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2023

Let’s not beat around the bush about it.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2022

“He doesn’t beat around the bush ... he wants to know what isn’t working well, not just what’s working,” said a source with access to Sheikh Mohammed.

From Reuters • May 13, 2022

Attempts to beat around the bush made her turn prickly.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield