as in waffling
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaseling
Verb
-
Patricia Serio is waffling between Saint Xavier and Judson University to finish her degree.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026 -
Marie helps clinch this fight against Godolkin, only after momentarily waffling on the ethics of how to use her powers.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This new #earthquake shaking potential map from the California Geological Survey highlights the distribution of shaking hazard across #California.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Her legs were physically shaking in her beginning pose.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, any jitters in China are only playing into wider questions about whether investors should be hedging themselves against headwinds to the dollar.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Investors are hedging their bets and consolidating capital to a few strong companies.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While Abigail Spanberger stood with her running mate Jay Jones and his murderous fantasies, and evaded every direct question including equivocating over men being in locker rooms with girls.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Across the world’s six biomes, Roar league players are bona fide icons, selling out arenas and ducking the paparazzi.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Photo provided Additional video shows witness Kenyatta Squires ducking into a corner deli moments before the van barrels onto the sidewalk toward two pedestrians standing outside a business.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After dodging Guantánamo, Stewart was instructed to report to an ICE detention center in Texas.—
Amy Maxmen,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Robertson, a designer by trade, launched the site last year after dodging a robot on a summer walk near Belden Avenue and Halsted Street in Lincoln Park with his wife and their two small children.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Charlotte’s husband is debriefing with Shaw, while obviously fudging the details of Pauly’s death.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
-
Kennedy accused Monarez of fudging the reason she was dismissed.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Bottega Veneta’s perfume holder makes sure your travel-sized scent never ever rolls around at the bottom of your bag, evading your grip hand again.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Weaseling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaseling. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
