noncommittal

adjective

non·​com·​mit·​tal ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl 

1

: giving no clear indication of attitude or feeling

a noncommittal reply

He was noncommittal about how the money would be spent.

2

: having no clear or distinctive character

… a noncommittal word which might be used of anything from babies to furnaces.

—J. C. Swaim

noncommittally

ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms of noncommittal

• neutral
• boring
• nondescript
• characterless
• beige
• tiring

Examples of noncommittal in a Sentence

She would only give noncommittal answers about her plans.

The president remained noncommittal, saying only that all options would be considered.

Recent Examples on the Web

After months of slow progress and noncommittal MOUs, international oil companies are making tangible headway in Venezuela. — Eugenia Perozo, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Asked in March whether a federal incentive would have to do something similar, Schiff was noncommittal. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

As the Jets prepare to travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers in their second preseason game, head coach Aaron Glenn was noncommittal about whether Smith would play Friday night. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Or will Dundon, who has been noncommittal about staying, move the team? — Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for noncommittal

• prehospital
• acquittal
• belittle
• committal
• hospital
• popliteal
• submittal
• transmittal
• brittle
• kittel
• kittle
• little

Kids Definition

noncommittal

adjective

non·​com·​mit·​tal ˌnän-kə-ˈmit-ᵊl 

: not telling or showing what a person thinks or has decided

a noncommittal answer

noncommittally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb