TERGIVERSATIONS Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

tergiversation

noun

ˌtər-ˌji-vər-ˈsā-shən

Definition of tergiversation

as in ambiguity

deliberate evasion in speech like many politicians, he has the gift for tergiversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tergiversation

Noun

As is the case with all of OTC’s previous music, part of the charm is its swirling ambiguity, but this time there’s additional poignance in the backstory.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
Nothing was stable, every framework was being rebuilt in real time and the only thing that separated functional teams from struggling ones was behavioral reliability under extreme ambiguity.

— Amy Alexy, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of ambiguity

Noun

Aside from an occasional shuffle or snuffle from my fellow campers, the night was draped in a thick blanket of stress-shrinking quiet.

— Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
For its part, 101 Studios has gone through numerous showrunner shuffles itself, mostly on Sheridan shows.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of shuffle

Noun

But in terms of its actual content, the statement was pretty thin gruel, bristling with public relations-style circumlocution and vagueness.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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

Definition of circumlocution

Noun

Others have expressed their equivocation about nirvana less ominously.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
The people around Trump support these equivocations because anyone who opposes Trump’s ideas in the White House will be shown the door; any Republican who speaks up in Congress will be primaried out of their seat.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026

Definition of equivocation

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.

Browse Nearby Words

tergiversating

tergiversation

term

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to tergiversation

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tergiversation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tergiversation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tergiversation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Debate and Argument Words

Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2019

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulsome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes