as in to weasel
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues
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Recent Examples of equivocate
Grijalva’s swearing-in has sparked a partisan furor on Capitol Hill, as Johnson equivocates on the timeline ahead and Democrats accuse him of delaying the ceremony for political reasons.
—
Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Progressive group Demand Justice on Sunday announced a six-figure ad campaign targeting two Democratic senators for voting to advance judicial nominees who equivocated about the results of the 2020 election.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 5 Oct. 2025
Expect Hamas to try to equivocate, buy time, soften language, and insist on impossible guarantees while preserving levers of power.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
For what seems like the first time, Casper equivocates.
—Gary Greenberg, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Progressive group Demand Justice on Sunday announced a six-figure ad campaign targeting two Democratic senators for voting to advance judicial nominees who equivocated about the results of the 2020 election.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 5 Oct. 2025
Expect Hamas to try to equivocate, buy time, soften language, and insist on impossible guarantees while preserving levers of power.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
For what seems like the first time, Casper equivocates.
—Gary Greenberg, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivocate
Verb
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The pair cling to each other over the coming weeks despite R.C’s increasing mistrust of Peter and Jerry’s determination to weasel his way back into Agnes’ life.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
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So if an extra (and questionable) ingredient weasels its way into the formula, and the supplement hits the market, there's not much the FDA can do besides send companies a warning letter to recall the supplement.—
Julia Forbes,
Wired News,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In recent editions, the rosters were drafted by James, Durant and Antetokounmpo in an attempt to shake things up.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Jothan saw us and shook our hands, as did Michael Ray, but Sun Ra scuffled by with an air of depthless blankness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Equivocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivocate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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