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

Brown was equally noncommittal when asked about the challenges of playing through a broken finger. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026

When asked during a May 14 news conference about Brand’s candidacy for the upcoming hire, Myers was noncommittal. —Gina Mizell, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

As luck would have it, that noncommittal length is also very chic and grown-up. —Loren Savini, Allure, 22 May 2026

Ujiri told reporters not to read anything into him being noncommittal about Kidd's return, saying the incumbent lasted several years as coach in each of the previous times he was hired to run basketball operations, with Toronto and Denver. —ABC News, 19 May 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