equivocate

[ih-kwiv-uh-keyt] / ɪˈkwɪv əˌkeɪt /

VERB

avoid an issue

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

beat around the bush 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

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.

He didn’t equivocate and he did not lie to me to make himself look better.

From Salon • May 18, 2024

"If he moves toward FX unification that is also a positive. He cannot equivocate."

From Reuters • Nov. 20, 2023

But he continued to equivocate on the issue.

From Washington Times • Jul. 12, 2023

Ms. Chen was not one to equivocate when pursuing her goals, from academic pursuits to extreme rock climbing.

From New York Times • May 14, 2021

She refused to equivocate on the issue of school desegregation, and in the Hispanic community she became an important, heroic voice.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Vocabulary lists containing equivocate

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

100 Words to Make You Sound Smart

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act II

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!