Debating Tactics

3 words in this vocabulary list

pettifog tergiversation ad nauseam

pettifog

verb to quibble over insignificant details or argue in a petty way

  • The lawyer tried to pettifog the details of the contract to confuse the jury.
  • Don't try to pettifog your way out of this, just tell the truth.
  • Stop pettifogging and just admit that you made a mistake.
  • She always tries to pettifog the truth to make herself look better.

tergiversation

noun evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement; equivocation

  • The politician's tergiversation on the issue only served to confuse the public.
  • Stop with the tergiversation and just tell us what you really think.
  • Her tergiversation was so obvious, everyone could see through it.
  • His constant tergiversation between two choices left him feeling lost and indecisive.

ad nauseam

adjective to a sickening or excessive degree

adverb to a sickening or excessive degree

  • The speaker continued to repeat the same points ad nauseam during the conference.
  • I'm so tired of hearing about that topic ad nauseam.
  • They keep talking about it ad nauseam, it's getting annoying.
  • The song played on the radio ad nauseam until everyone was sick of it.