prevaricate
What does "prevaricate" mean?
To prevaricate means to avoid giving a direct answer or to speak in a way that deliberately misleads or delays the truth. The mental image is of someone dancing around a question, throwing out vague statements to keep from being pinned down or held accountable for a specific fact. It is a formal, sophisticated word often used in legal, political, or professional contexts. While "lying" implies a total fabrication, prevaricating suggests a calculated hesitation or a "weaving" of words to avoid the discomfort of a clear "yes" or "no."
"prevaricate" in conversation
A difficult performance review
Are you going to meet the deadline, or not?
Are you going to meet the deadline, or not?
Well, the timeline is quite fluid given the current resource constraints.
Well, the timeline is quite fluid given the current resource constraints.
Stop prevaricating and give me a date.
Stop prevaricating and give me a date.
Used here to call out someone being evasive about a deadline.
A political interview
Did you know about the budget shortfall in January?
Did you know about the budget shortfall in January?
That is a complex issue with many moving parts that we are investigating.
That is a complex issue with many moving parts that we are investigating.
You are prevaricating again; just answer the question.
You are prevaricating again; just answer the question.
Commonly used in journalism to describe a politician's refusal to be transparent.
"prevaricate" in a sentence
He prevaricated when asked about his past.
He prevaricated when asked about his past.
Rather than prevaricating, she gave a clear and concise answer.
Rather than prevaricating, she gave a clear and concise answer.
The witness attempted to prevaricate under oath, but the prosecutor quickly caught the inconsistency.
The witness attempted to prevaricate under oath, but the prosecutor quickly caught the inconsistency.
