as in lying
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Dissimilar Words
as in fibbing
to make a statement one knows to be untrue
during the hearings the witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend
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Recent Examples of prevaricating
Jessica Camille Aguirre, New Yorker, 2 May 2026
Verb
There was a sense that the people in charge of the operation were incompetent or, worse, deliberately prevaricating.
—Jessica Camille Aguirre, New Yorker, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevaricating
Adjective
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He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.—
Kenan Draughorne,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2022
Adjective
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The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
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Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The business world will likely never be without people who are dishonest and lack integrity, but ethics and moral integrity are still important.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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The election took place amid a surge in violent crime and corruption that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Since 2019, state law has required law enforcement agencies that employ POST certificate holders to notify the board if a certificate holder knowingly made an untruthful statement during an internal affairs investigation, among other circumstances.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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These questions were raised after reporting by The New York Times in August 2024 regarding Moore’s untruthful claims about receiving the Bronze Star in Afghanistan — a story originally reported on in 2022 by FOX45’s Mikenzie Frost.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevaricating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevaricating. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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