prevaricate
verb [I] /prɪˈvær.ɪ.keɪt/
/-ˈver-/ formalDefinition
› to avoid telling the truth or saying exactly what you think: He accused the minister of prevaricating.Digressing and being indirect or evasiveMoving in order to avoid contactNot saying much prevarication /prɪˌvær.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
/-ˌver-/ noun [U] › All my attempts to question the authorities on the subject were met by prevarication.Digressing and being indirect or evasiveMoving in order to avoid contactNot saying much
/-ˌver-/ noun [U] › All my attempts to question the authorities on the subject were met by prevarication.Digressing and being indirect or evasiveMoving in order to avoid contactNot saying much(Definition of prevaricate verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- beat around the bush idiom
- circumlocution noun
- discursive adjective
- elliptical adjective (LANGUAGE)
- equivocate verb
- evade verb
- evasive adjective
- gloss over sth phrasal verb
- go (all) round the houses idiom
- indirect adjective (NOT OBVIOUS)
- mealy-mouthed adjective
- meander verb (NO PURPOSE)
- oblique adjective (NOT DIRECT)
- parry verb
- roundabout adjective
- sanitize verb (CHANGE)
- sidestep verb
- tiptoe round/around sth/sb phrasal verb
- underlying adjective (NOT OBVIOUS)
- wander verb (SUBJECT)
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