prevarication

noun

Definition of prevaricationnext
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive she knew that his account was a pure prevarication

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 prevarication This week, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi gave a master class in obfuscation, prevarication, and pettiness. — John Ficarra, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025 There was no picture, there was no drawing, there has been so many lies, so much prevarication, so much cover up. — John Parkinson, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevarication
  1. lie
  2. tale
  3. story
Noun
  • The Hades sequence gets much of its emotional weight from Page, as Sinon confronts Odysseus with the lie that sent him to his death.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • In a new book, author and journalist Pamela Colloff investigates a notorious con man, whose lies had devastating consequences for many who knew him.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of lie
Noun
  • At 55, the Academy Award–winning actor had to train hard and eat right to maintain the body of a hero worthy of a generation-spanning epic tale.
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 20 July 2026
  • But even within the movie’s powerful melodrama sits a secondary tale of fascistic process, one that speaks truth to power through implication and whisper.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • Associated Press writers Pan Pylas and Jill Lawless contributed to this story.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Especially since there are so many stories already inside the game with the campaign aspect.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of story

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prevarication
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Cite this Entry

“Prevarication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevarication. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prevarication

Nglish: Translation of prevarication for Spanish Speakers

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