equivocate

verb

equiv·​o·​cate i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt 

equivocated; equivocating

intransitive verb

1

: to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive

2

: to avoid committing oneself in what one says

equivocator

i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• weasel
• shake

Choose the Right Synonym for equivocate

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth.

lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

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

While Abigail Spanberger stood with her running mate Jay Jones and his murderous fantasies, and evaded every direct question including equivocating over men being in locker rooms with girls. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025

Grijalva’s swearing-in has sparked a partisan furor on Capitol Hill, as Johnson equivocates on the timeline ahead and Democrats accuse him of delaying the ceremony for political reasons. —Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025

Expect Hamas to try to equivocate, buy time, soften language, and insist on impossible guarantees while preserving levers of power. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

For what seems like the first time, Casper equivocates. —Gary Greenberg, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for equivocate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids 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

equivocation

-ˌkwiv-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

equivocator

-ˈkwiv-ə-ˌkāt-ər 

noun