PREVARICATING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

prevaricating 1 of 2

adjective

as in lying

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

prevaricating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prevaricate

as in fibbing

to make a statement one knows to be untrue during the hearings the witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prevaricating

Verb

That’s a phrase used for President Lyndon Johnson prevaricating on the Vietnam War. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 9 June 2026 Instead, the White House spent weeks prevaricating on an executive order that rests on the voluntary cooperation of the AI industry. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 There was a sense that the people in charge of the operation were incompetent or, worse, deliberately prevaricating. — Jessica Camille Aguirre, New Yorker, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevaricating

Adjective

He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.

— Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022

Definition of lying

Adjective

The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.

— Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.

— Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026

Definition of mendacious

Adjective

Central figure Prosecutors Clark and Juenger portrayed Noreus as a central figure in the diploma-mill operation rather than simply a school administrator who became entangled with dishonest recruiters and students.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Davis said that witnesses were dishonest about his character throughout the trial, including FBI agents and police officers who testified for the prosecution.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of dishonest

Adjective

Those commitments can be withdrawn if Saab is untruthful with investigators or probation officials, commits another crime or otherwise violates the agreement.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
However, subsequent video evidence led officials to claim that the officers involved had likely made untruthful statements about what happened.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of untruthful

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Style

“Prevaricating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevaricating. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of prevaricating

adjective

verb

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