noncommittal

adjective

non·​com·​mit·​tal ˌnän-kə-ˈmi-tᵊl How to pronounce noncommittal (audio)
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 furnacesJ. C. Swaim
noncommittally adverb

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 The problem is that not one of those studies is sponsored by Novo, which has been noncommittal about running the costly, large-scale trials that would be required to win FDA approval in addiction. Damian Garde, STAT, 30 Nov. 2023 But others who voted for Jordan on the first ballot are noncommittal about supporting him in future votes. Reese Gorman, Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2023 The two are noncommittal about how many songs from that project made their way onto either version of Voir Dire. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2023 Campbell, the cellist in the JACK Quartet and one of the most remarkable proponents of new music, was restrained and seemingly noncommittal, barely heard at times, letting the pianist dominate. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2023 Ashlee and Kayla replied immediately after and circled the wagons with their own noncommittal notes. Irving Ruan, The New Yorker, 28 July 2023 At the State Department, where criticisms of Netanyahu’s policies have been few but sharp, officials were similarly noncommittal. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2023 By sounding noncommittal, the speaker is less likely to offend or come off as aggressive. Clarissa Wei, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023 Whether Means gets another start is unclear, with Hyde remaining noncommittal when asked after the loss. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'noncommittal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of noncommittal was in 1829

Dictionary Entries Near noncommittal

Cite this Entry

“Noncommittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noncommittal. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

noncommittal

adjective
non·​com·​mit·​tal ˌnän-kə-ˈmit-ᵊl How to pronounce noncommittal (audio)
: not telling or showing what a person thinks or has decided
a noncommittal answer
noncommittally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on noncommittal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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