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

Republican leaders in Congress have so far been noncommittal about the idea of holding formal votes to authorize an action. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

The official was noncommittal about whether the administration would continue to negotiate over arrests without judicial warrants. —Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026

There have been no takers so far, and China has been noncommittal. —ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026

Japan, Italy, and Australia declined to send ships to the strait, while South Korea remained noncommittal. —Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for noncommittal

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

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