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noncommittal

adjective non·com·mit·tal \ ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl \
|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of noncommittal

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

play \ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl-ē\ adverb

See noncommittal defined for English-language learners

See noncommittal defined for kids

Examples of noncommittal in a Sentence

  1. She would only give noncommittal answers about her plans.

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

Recent Examples of noncommittal from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'noncommittal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of noncommittal

1829

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
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NONCOMMITTAL Defined for English Language Learners

noncommittal

adjective

Definition of noncommittal for English Language Learners

  • : not telling or showing what you think about something

NONCOMMITTAL Defined for Kids

noncommittal

adjective non·com·mit·tal \ ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl \

Definition of noncommittal for Students

: not revealing thoughts or decisions
  • … her tone was so quiet and noncommittal that I knew Miss Crocker was not satisfied with her reaction.
  • —Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder

Learn More about noncommittal

  1. See words that rhyme with noncommittal Spanish Central: Translation of noncommittal Nglish: Translation of noncommittal for Spanish speakers

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