equivocate
verb
To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself; to be deliberately unclear in meaning.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin "aequivocatus," from "aequivocus" (of equal voice, ambiguous), from Latin "aequus" (equal) + "vocare" (to call). Speaking with equal validity on both sides.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"Politicians often equivocate to avoid alienating voters."
- 2.
"When asked directly, she equivocated rather than admitting the truth."
- 3.
"The witness's tendency to equivocate undermined his testimony."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The Porter scene in Macbeth famously discusses equivocation. Shakespeare wrote it shortly after the Gunpowder Plot, when Catholic conspirators defended their lies with equivocation doctrine—mental reservations that made lies technically true.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 10 letters (E, Q, U, I, V, O, C, A, T, E)
Scrabble Value: 24 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "EQUIVOCATE" appears in many related words.
Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!
Ready to find words like "equivocate" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!