Synonyms of palter

palter

verb

ˈpȯl-tər 

as in to deal

to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase

unwilling to palter over the price of the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deal
• negotiate
• bargain
• cut a deal
• haggle
• chaffer
• dicker
• argue
• horse-trade
• bicker
• clash
• wheel and deal
• quarrel
• fight
• wrangle
• squabble
• buy
• quibble
• exchange
• shop (around)
• trade
• barter
• peddle
• hawk
• hassle
• comparison shop
• purchase

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb palter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of palter are equivocate, fib, lie, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

When is equivocate a more appropriate choice than palter?

While the synonyms equivocate and palter are close in meaning, equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

When is it sensible to use fib instead of palter?

The words fib and palter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When can lie be used instead of palter?

Although the words lie and palter have much in common, lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another, in the sense of palter?

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of palter

Another subtype is paltering, where the models use a selective true statement to mislead the human. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Aug. 2025

Rather than wait to share the witches’ paltering pronouncements with Lady M (Indira Varma) in person, the thane of Glamis chooses to send word to his wife in advance of his return from battle. —Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024