equivocating 1 of 2

adjective

as in pretending

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equivocating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of equivocate
as in weaseling
to avoid giving a definite answer or position the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of equivocating
Adjective
Yet Hiller’s latest equivocating mea culpa, with the now-familiar language of hardship and defeatism so unbecoming of a professional hockey team, rang unconvincing. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
This was after much pressing and equivocating, number one. — CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026 But the judge’s equivocating ruling in that piracy case created a loophole, according to Anthropic’s lawyers. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026 While Abigail Spanberger stood with her running mate Jay Jones and his murderous fantasies, and evaded every direct question including equivocating over men being in locker rooms with girls. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocating
  1. pretending
  2. shaking
  3. hypocritical
  4. waffling
  5. duplicitous
  6. insincere
  7. evasive
  8. untrustworthy
Adjective
  • There can be no more pretending, briefing or hiding.
    — Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Definition of pretending
Verb
  • Knightsbridge was challenged over the opening mile by the speedy Full Serrano before shaking him off at the head of the stretch.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Hood makes the sign of the cross with his shaking hands and removes his glasses to wipe away a tear.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaking
Adjective
  • There is something deeply hypocritical about discovering and using the language of women’s liberation only when your own status, reputation, or income is at stake.
    — Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That some people in these industries, including those who are well paid, would look at our economy and seek out other ways of doing things is neither hypocritical nor surprising.
    — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of hypocritical
Verb
  • The tournament’s special status — its unwillingness to place any person above the sport — is part of why Williams wanted to play singles, not just doubles with her sister Venus, after waffling on the decision.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • Nothing kills momentum faster than waffling on a big decision.
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of waffling
Adjective
  • Cypher probably is best known for his role as the politics-savvy and sometimes duplicitous Police Chief Fletcher Daniels in more than 70 episodes of NBC’s 1980s cop drama Hill Street Blues from 1981-87.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The more beautiful a woman, the more likely her exterior attributes displayed a duplicitous nature.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of duplicitous
Adjective
  • The implication is that stage types and progressive politicians are craven, submissive, and insincere.
    — Erik Forrest Jackson, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Survivors have expressed frustration and criticized the Japanese government's support for nuclear deterrence for being insincere.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of insincere
Adjective
  • Yet the answers remain evasive enough that Golden State coach Natalie Nakase charges herself with the blame for not yet finding new answers for this foe.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Many flying insects include evasive maneuvers into their routine flying patterns.
    — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of evasive
Adjective
  • The advanced flow is intentionally more difficult to use on the first try and is designed to discourage users from downloading apps from untrustworthy sources.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Lawyers representing Elon Musk, who sued OpenAI, Altman and Brockman in 2024 over a dispute about the company's corporate structure, used Altman's firing as a way to cast doubt on his character, accusing him of being untrustworthy.
    — Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of untrustworthy

Browse Nearby Words

equivocates
equivocating
equivocation
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Cite this Entry

“Equivocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocating. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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