After months of prevarication, the political decision had at last been made.
Synonyms: evasion, lies, deception, pretence More Synonyms of prevaricate
prevaricate in British English
(prɪˈværɪˌkeɪt)
verb
(intransitive)
to speak or act falsely or evasively with intent to deceive
Derived forms
prevarication (preˌvariˈcation)
noun
prevaricator (preˈvariˌcator)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin praevāricārī to walk crookedly, from prae beyond + vāricare to straddle the legs; compare Latin vārus bent
prevaricate in American English
(prɪˈværɪˌkeɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: preˈvariˌcated or preˈvariˌcating
1.
to turn aside from, or evade, the truth; equivocate
2.
to tell an untruth; lie
SIMILAR WORDS: lie
Derived forms
prevarication (preˌvariˈcation)
noun
prevaricator (preˈvariˌcator)
noun
Word origin
< L praevaricatus, pp. of praevaricari, to prevaricate, lit., to walk crookedly < prae-, before + varicare, to straddle < varicus, straddling < varus, bent apart < IE base *wa- > vary
Examples of 'prevaricate' in a sentence
prevaricate
When I knew that I could prevaricate no longer, I spent an unhappy afternoon agonising over which stories to give her to read.
Alex George LOVE YOU MADLY (2002)
`Helena Latimer, twenty-eight years old," she paused, wondering whether to say it, decided to prevaricate, `writer, five foot six.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2002)
She might prevaricate for a good cause, but her oath was absolute, and a vow given to a friend was sacred.
Stephanie Laurens ALL ABOUT LOVE (2002)
(verb)
Definition
to avoid giving a direct or truthful answer
British ministers continued to prevaricate on the issue.
Synonyms
evade
Mr Patel denied that he was evading the question.
lie
If asked, he lies about his age.
shift
hedge
When asked about his involvement, he hedged.
shuffle
dodge
deceive
flannel (British, informal)
He flannelled and prevaricated.
quibble
Let's not quibble.
beg the question
beat about the bush
cavil
equivocate
He is equivocating a lot about what is going to happen at the next election.
stretch the truth
palter
give a false colour to
tergiversate
Opposites
be direct
,
be frank
,
be straightforward
,
be blunt
,
come straight to the point
,
not beat about the bush
Additional synonyms
in the sense of equivocate
Definition
to use vague or ambiguous language in order to deceive someone or to avoid telling the truth
He is equivocating a lot about what is going to happen at the next election.
Synonyms
be evasive,
evade,
dodge,
parry,
fence,
hedge,
shuffle,
fudge,
flannel (British, informal),
sidestep,
waffle (informal, British),
quibble,
prevaricate,
pussyfoot (informal),
avoid the issue,
beat about the bush (informal),
tergiversate
in the sense of flannel
Definition
to flatter or talk evasively
He flannelled and prevaricated.
Synonyms
prevaricate,
hedge,
flatter,
waffle (informal, British),
blarney,
sweet-talk (informal),
soft-soap (informal),
equivocate,
butter up,
pull the wool over (someone's) eyes
in the sense of hedge
Definition
to avoid making a decision by making noncommittal statements