as in to weasel
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in ambiguity
deliberate evasion in speech
your equivocation when asked where you were last night is not reassuring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguousness
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the equivocation of the last line of the poem, "That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of equivocate
James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
However, Trump equivocated in a longer version of the answer that aired later on the network.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The equivocation that has characterized the administration’s legal responses to date is turning into objection and refusal.
—Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Verb
And as politicians, these Supreme Court Justices are especially bristling, equivocating, and entitled, which doesn’t make for trustworthy narration.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
However, Trump equivocated in a longer version of the answer that aired later on the network.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Noun
The equivocation over the ground invasion reflects Mr. Netanyahu’s need to satisfy far-right cabinet ministers, who are pushing for the full re-occupation of Gaza, and Israel’s top generals, who believe such a move would be difficult to sustain and dangerous to hostages held in Gaza.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The equivocation that has characterized the administration’s legal responses to date is turning into objection and refusal.
—Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocate
Verb
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So, that was a good learning experience and a humbling experience of being on the outside and trying to weasel my way in.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
25 Sep. 2025
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So if an extra (and questionable) ingredient weasels its way into the formula, and the supplement hits the market, there's not much the FDA can do besides send companies a warning letter to recall the supplement.—
Julia Forbes,
Wired News,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In a better world, novels of this level of sophistication, beauty, erudition, ambiguity, and play would come along more frequently and dominate the literary discourse.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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Any unexplained death leaves room for competing narratives, but Scott’s death involved a particularly vexing set of ambiguities.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Whether the Canes can get to 10-2 will likely depend on if Beck can shake off his four-interception nightmare.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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The new coach shook hands, smiled for cell phone pictures and signed posters for wave after wave of kids.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In theory, Slot’s tactical out-of-possession shuffle to a staggered 4-3-3 should help Liverpool to defend on their right flank, but the ease with which Chelsea exploited the space was a culmination of weeks of warning signs.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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When Rashid wanders into the office, Vahid stops his call — there’s something about this man’s shuffle that strikes him as familiar.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Their circumlocutions were as entrancing as their ability to find the most precisely ironic words for difficult-to-name realities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
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Here, instead, she’s swayed by a dead Diana softly squeezing her hand and kindly hinting — the dead Diana is an ace at tactful circumlocution — that now is the time to show a mourning nation some emotion.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
16 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Equivocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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