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Definitions

sit on the fence

VERB
abstain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cease forgo pass up quit refrain renounce shun withhold
STRONG
abjure abnegate avoid constrain curb decline eschew evade fast forbear pass refuse spurn starve stop
WEAK
deny oneself do without fence-sit give the go by give up go on the wagon keep from sit on one's hands sit out take the cure take the pledge
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continue do
STRONG
accept allow embrace encourage face meet use want
WEAK
indulge
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
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 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 beat around the bush blow hot and cold cop a plea cop out give the runaround hem and haw pass the buck run around shilly-shally tergiverse
Antonyms
STRONG
face meet
WEAK
confront release
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 beat around the bush duck the issues hem and haw play it close to the vest tergiverse tread warily watch one's step weasel
Antonyms
STRONG
confront face meet take on
WEAK
plod

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 going to sit on the fence instead.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

“They need to be condemned and there’s no place to sit on the fence here: You’re either condemning it or you’re condoning it.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 30, 2023

"In the coming days, the Russian market should trade in a narrow band - investors are likely to sit on the fence hoping for more clarity," BCS said.

From Reuters • Sep. 29, 2022

Ukraine was “trying to sit on the fence and avoid any sensitive issues with Beijing, and expected the same from China,” he said.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2022

"But all you did," commented Jud Tunkins, contemptuously, "was to sit on the fence and whittle."

From More Toasts by Mosher, Marion Dix