equivocate

1 of 2

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

equivocator

2 of 2

noun

equiv·​o·​ca·​tor

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that equivocates

an equivocator who could be quoted on either side of almost any question

—John Mason Brown

Synonyms of equivocate

Verb

• 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

Verb

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

Verb

The White House has reportedly equivocated its support of Means in recent weeks. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026

Brooks, for his part, equivocated … A bout of frantic rebranding ensued. —Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026

Brooks, for his part, equivocated. —Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

This was after much pressing and equivocating, number one. —CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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