weasel

²weasel

verb

wea·seledwea·sel·ing\ˈwēz-liŋ, ˈwē-zə-\

Definition of WEASEL

intransitive verb

1

: to use weasel words : equivocate

2

: to escape from or evade a situation or obligation —often used with out

transitive verb

: to manipulate shiftily

Examples of WEASEL

1. <the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal>

Origin of WEASEL

weasel word

First Known Use: 1900

Related to WEASEL

Synonyms: fudge, hedge, pussyfoot, tergiversate, waffle, equivocate

Related Words: flip-flop, yo-yo; dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun, sidestep, skirt; bypass, circumvent; cavil, quibble; straddle

[+]more[-]hide