Illustration of weasel
- weasel 1
plural weasels
1
or plural weasel
: any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (such as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly brown with white or yellowish underparts, and in northern forms turn white in winter compare ermine sense 1a
2
: a light self-propelled tracked vehicle built either for traveling over snow, ice, or sand or as an amphibious vehicle
3
: a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person
weaseled; weaseling
ˈwēz-liŋ 
ˈwē-zə-
1
: to use weasel words : equivocate
2
: to escape from or evade a situation or obligation
—often used with out
: to manipulate shiftily
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2023
The Suicide Squad is a classic James Gunn flick: Like Gunn’s other franchise for rival studio Marvel, The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad is very weird and features violent talking creatures—just sub out a raccoon and tree for a shark and a weasel.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 6 Aug. 2021
The comic-relief Italian weasel?
—Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 29 July 2021
The adorable weasel-puppies of the water.
—Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2019
Fort Collins: About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction four decades ago.
—From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2020
Every winter in British Columbia, trappers set hundreds of mousetrap-like devices baited and fastened to trees to capture and kill bushy-tailed, weasel-like animals called martens for their fur.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental Covid-19 vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction four decades ago.
—Jonel Aleccia, CNN, 23 Dec. 2020
Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022
But McCain tried to weasel out of this process.
—Nick Martin, The New Republic, 15 Jan. 2021
Back in town, Jamie arrives at his office to find Sarah and Market Equities weasel Ellis Steele waiting for him.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2022
Another day, another Hollywood relationship that Pete Davidson has managed to weasel his way into.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Nov. 2022
The leader in the shrinkage was a troubled Twitter, led by a new owner who, after trying to weasel out of his $44 billion commitment to buy the firm, has thrown himself into the task of fixing its problems.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 11 Nov. 2022
Because the sinuses are close to the brain, there’s a fear that virus particles could weasel their way in there and cause damage.
—Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Oct. 2022
The movie industry, people are just trying to get their next project and trying to politically weasel their way through.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2022
Elon Musk has been trying everything to weasel out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter.
—Scott Nover, Quartz, 23 Aug. 2022
See More
Noun
The bill defines a covered animal as a coyote, beaver, bobcat, fox, mink, muskrat, otter, rabbit, skunk or weasel.
—Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2023
The Suicide Squad is a classic James Gunn flick: Like Gunn’s other franchise for rival studio Marvel, The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad is very weird and features violent talking creatures—just sub out a raccoon and tree for a shark and a weasel.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 6 Aug. 2021
The comic-relief Italian weasel?
—Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 29 July 2021
The adorable weasel-puppies of the water.
—Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2019
Fort Collins: About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction four decades ago.
—From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2020
Every winter in British Columbia, trappers set hundreds of mousetrap-like devices baited and fastened to trees to capture and kill bushy-tailed, weasel-like animals called martens for their fur.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental Covid-19 vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction four decades ago.
—Jonel Aleccia, CNN, 23 Dec. 2020
Verb
There’s another guy trying to weasel his way in.
—Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022
But McCain tried to weasel out of this process.
—Nick Martin, The New Republic, 15 Jan. 2021
Back in town, Jamie arrives at his office to find Sarah and Market Equities weasel Ellis Steele waiting for him.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2022
Another day, another Hollywood relationship that Pete Davidson has managed to weasel his way into.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Nov. 2022
The leader in the shrinkage was a troubled Twitter, led by a new owner who, after trying to weasel out of his $44 billion commitment to buy the firm, has thrown himself into the task of fixing its problems.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 11 Nov. 2022
Because the sinuses are close to the brain, there’s a fear that virus particles could weasel their way in there and cause damage.
—Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Oct. 2022
The movie industry, people are just trying to get their next project and trying to politically weasel their way through.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2022
Elon Musk has been trying everything to weasel out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter.
—Scott Nover, Quartz, 23 Aug. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weasel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel
Verb
weasel word
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1900, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of weasel was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing weasel
Articles Related to weasel
Dictionary Entries Near weasel
Cite this Entry
“Weasel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weasel. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.
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Kids Definition
weasel
noun
wea·sel
ˈwē-zəl
plural weasels
1
or plural weasel
: any of various small slender active mammals that are related to the minks, eat small animals (as mice and birds), and in northern regions turn white in winter compare ermine sense 1
2
: a sneaky, untrustworthy, or dishonest person
More from Merriam-Webster on weasel
Nglish: Translation of weasel for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of weasel for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about weasel
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