Well-read · Talking & language · Arguing & persuading
Equivocate: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Equivocate verb. To speak vaguely or ambiguously to avoid committing yourself or telling the truth.
How to say it
ih-KWIV-uh-kayt/ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (KWIV). Forms: equivocated, equivocating.
Equivocate in a sentence
Asked whether he'd read the report, the minister equivocated for a full minute.
Stop equivocating: are you coming to the wedding or not?
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- hedge
- prevaricate
- fudge
- waffle
Opposite:
- commit
- state plainly
Where equivocate comes from
From late Latin aequivocare, to call by the same name, from aequus, equal, and vocare, to call.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Stop _____: are you coming to the wedding or not?
- imply
- equivocate
- garble
Show the answer
equivocate: Stop equivocating: are you coming to the wedding or not?