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
  • As a freshman, Reavis’ Santiago Chavez was shaking before his first state cross country meet.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Symptoms can include problems with balance, uncontrollable shaking of one’s hands and stiffness.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of shaking
Adjective
  • The fine was controversial to begin with, as fans and pundits pointed out the NFL’s business with beer sponsors such as Bud Light and called the sensitivity over the celebration hypocritical.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships.
    — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 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
  • Dinklage is perfect casting as the slightly duplicitous Basket Weaver, an artisan who has his own surprises in store.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
  • At least Mark Zuckerberg had the decency to be duplicitous, Altman is just openly consumed by the mania of trying to win the most important technological arms race since the atom bomb.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of duplicitous
Adjective
  • Many commenters accuse her of being insincere and suggest that her statements are merely a tactic to gain votes before the election.
    — Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026
  • None of the warnings being made about these models by industry insiders are at all insincere.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of insincere
Adjective
  • Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine but remain evasive about possible Russian involvement in drone attacks in the Black Sea region.
    — Veselin Toshkov, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Many artists and audiences seem to think that a clinical, alienating, ironic, evasive, or aesthetically empty eye makes work very highbrow.
    — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of evasive
Adjective
  • Today’s Theme At 60-Across, we’re asked for a term that describes something [Like an untrustworthy business] — which, the revealer clue suggests, doubles as [a hint to the ends of 17-, 29-, 39- and 47-Across].
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Platner’s noisy ascension and implosion didn’t just leave the Democrats looking untrustworthy.
    — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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