equivocate
verb
equiv·o·cate
i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt 
equivocated; equivocating
1
: to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive
2
: to avoid committing oneself in what one says
Examples of equivocate in a Sentence
The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job.
When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pressed by Jake Tapper on whether Mr. Biden should debate this year, Mr. Coons equivocated.
—
Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Many Republicans responded to Mr. Trump’s latest comments by defending him or equivocating.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
Her equivocating remarks over the weekend left reason to wonder about the coherence of the White House’s strategy.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 4 Mar. 2024
The statement defines the equivocating, timid and wholly unsuccessful strategy of the Biden administration, but also of successive administrations for years.
—WSJ, 1 Jan. 2024
The resignation comes after weeks of criticism over her initial response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and early December comments at a House committee hearing that equivocated on whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people violated the campus code of conduct.
—Melissa Korn, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2024
And yet even Martha, who does not equivocate about her caviar or apologize for her pack of purebred dogs, is stuck with the same internet as the rest of us.
—Rachel Sugar, Bon Appétit, 7 Dec. 2023
Simply staying under the radar or equivocating are not viable responses, in the view of Lior Susan, founding partner of venture capital firm Eclipse.
—Elliott Gotkine, CNN, 20 Oct. 2023
Perhaps Ramaswamy was equivocating with the audience, secretly recognizing that the failure to recognize the urgency of the crisis is behind the inadequate policies hastening our demise.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Many Republicans responded to Mr. Trump’s latest comments by defending him or equivocating.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
Her equivocating remarks over the weekend left reason to wonder about the coherence of the White House’s strategy.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 4 Mar. 2024
The statement defines the equivocating, timid and wholly unsuccessful strategy of the Biden administration, but also of successive administrations for years.
—WSJ, 1 Jan. 2024
The resignation comes after weeks of criticism over her initial response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and early December comments at a House committee hearing that equivocated on whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people violated the campus code of conduct.
—Melissa Korn, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2024
And yet even Martha, who does not equivocate about her caviar or apologize for her pack of purebred dogs, is stuck with the same internet as the rest of us.
—Rachel Sugar, Bon Appétit, 7 Dec. 2023
Simply staying under the radar or equivocating are not viable responses, in the view of Lior Susan, founding partner of venture capital firm Eclipse.
—Elliott Gotkine, CNN, 20 Oct. 2023
Perhaps Ramaswamy was equivocating with the audience, secretly recognizing that the failure to recognize the urgency of the crisis is behind the inadequate policies hastening our demise.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equivocate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near equivocate
Cite this Entry
“Equivocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivocate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
equivocate
verb
equiv·o·cate
i-ˈkwiv-ə-ˌkāt
equivocated; equivocating
: to use equivocal language especially to deceive
also
: to avoid giving a definite answer
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