as in to weasel
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in ambiguity
deliberate evasion in speech
your equivocation when asked where you were last night is not reassuring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguousness
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the equivocation of the last line of the poem, "That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
And no — because strictly speaking there is no Electric Nebraska per se, notwithstanding Springsteen’s equivocations on the point (as reported in this magazine) and the fact that one disc in this five-disc set is titled Electric Nebraska.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for equivocate
Verb
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
Noun
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
And no — because strictly speaking there is no Electric Nebraska per se, notwithstanding Springsteen’s equivocations on the point (as reported in this magazine) and the fact that one disc in this five-disc set is titled Electric Nebraska.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 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
Noun
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The brain is also far more adept at handling things like ambiguity, subtlety, and nuance.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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What qualifies is highly subjective, but that ambiguity has overwhelmingly benefited federal officers, according to the two legal scholars.—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
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Every August, Spain's population shuffles—locals flee inland cities for the coast, small-town restaurants pull down their shutters, and tourist destinations hit peak season.—
Ryan Craggs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the latest shuffle.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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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