equivocate
verb
equiv·o·cate
i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt 
equivocated; equivocating
1
: to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive
2
: to avoid committing oneself in what one says
Examples of equivocate in a Sentence
The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job.
When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.
Recent Examples on the Web
The policy initiatives that emerge, unsurprisingly, have an air of indecision and equivocating.
—
Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2019
Critics further condemn equivocating between Israel, as a democracy, and Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S., Israel and by the European Union.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 7 Feb. 2025
Less than 10 minutes into a British parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, during which a Shein representative equivocated on questions relating to the e-tail Goliath’s supply chain and a potential public float, a visibly frustrated Member of Parliament made his feelings known in no uncertain terms.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025
And one of the things there is that there's a perception, fair or otherwise, that Democrats have equivocated about political violence from anti-Israel protestors, more recently, the killing of United Health CEO, Brian Thompson.
—ABC News, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
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Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2019
Critics further condemn equivocating between Israel, as a democracy, and Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S., Israel and by the European Union.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 7 Feb. 2025
Less than 10 minutes into a British parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, during which a Shein representative equivocated on questions relating to the e-tail Goliath’s supply chain and a potential public float, a visibly frustrated Member of Parliament made his feelings known in no uncertain terms.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025
And one of the things there is that there's a perception, fair or otherwise, that Democrats have equivocated about political violence from anti-Israel protestors, more recently, the killing of United Health CEO, Brian Thompson.
—ABC News, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Cite this Entry
“Equivocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivocate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
equivocate
verb
equiv·o·cate
i-ˈkwiv-ə-ˌkāt
equivocated; equivocating
: to use equivocal language especially to deceive
also
: to avoid giving a definite answer
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