Equivocate

Pronunciation: /ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/

Definitions of equivocate

verb to use ambiguous or unclear language in order to deceive or avoid committing to a position

Example Sentences

A1 She didn't want to tell the truth, so she equivocated instead.

A2 The politician equivocated when asked about his stance on the issue.

B1 It is important to be honest and not equivocate when giving information.

B2 The defendant tried to equivocate during the cross-examination, but the lawyer saw through it.

C1 The CEO equivocated during the press conference, causing speculation among investors.

C2 The diplomat was skilled at equivocating in order to navigate delicate negotiations.

Examples of equivocate in a Sentence

formal The witness tried to equivocate when asked about his whereabouts on the night of the crime.

informal Don't equivocate, just tell me the truth.

slang Stop equivocating and give me a straight answer.

figurative Her smile seemed to equivocate her true feelings about the situation.

Grammatical Forms of equivocate

• past tense: equivocated
• plural: equivocates
• comparative: more equivocal
• superlative: most equivocal
• present tense: equivocates
• future tense: will equivocate
• perfect tense: has equivocated
• continuous tense: is equivocating
• singular: equivocates
• positive degree: equivocal
• infinitive: equivocate
• gerund: equivocating
• participle: equivocating

Origin and Evolution of equivocate

First Known Use: 1590 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'equivocate' originated from the Latin word 'aequivocus' which means 'of equal voice'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe speaking ambiguously or with a double meaning, the word 'equivocate' has evolved to also include the idea of being intentionally vague or misleading in speech.