Prevaricate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐คฅ
prevaricate
[prษชหvรฆr.ษช.keษชt ]
Definitions
in conversation
Prevaricate means to speak or act in an evasive way, often to avoid telling the truth or making a clear decision. It is a form of deception or deceit, where one avoids a direct answer or response.
Synonyms
dodge, equivocate, evade, skirt around.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| prevaricate |
Used when someone is being deliberately vague or lying to avoid the truth. Often has a negative connotation.
|
| equivocate |
Used when someone is speaking ambiguously, often to mislead or avoid committing to a clear stance. Has a negative connotation.
|
| evade |
Used when someone is avoiding something, such as a question, responsibility, or even the law. Can imply avoidance with intention.
|
| dodge |
Used when someone is physically avoiding something or someone, or metaphorically avoiding a question or responsibility.
|
| skirt around |
Used when someone is avoiding talking directly about a topic, often because it's sensitive or embarrassing.
|
Examples of usage
- He prevaricated when asked about his involvement in the scandal.
- She tends to prevaricate when faced with difficult questions.
formal writing
Prevaricate can also mean to stray away from the truth or deviate from the right path. It implies a deliberate attempt to mislead or deceive, often by using ambiguous or misleading language.
Synonyms
deceive, fabricate, fudge, mislead.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| prevaricate |
Used when someone is avoiding telling the truth by being vague or ambiguous.
|
| mislead |
Used when someone is giving the wrong idea or impression, often intentionally. This can have a negative connotation.
|
| deceive |
Used when someone is intentionally causing someone to believe something that is not true. This often has a negative connotation.
|
| fabricate |
Used when someone is making up something that is not true, often a story or an excuse.
|
| fudge |
Used when someone is deliberately changing or manipulating facts slightly to avoid a clear answer or to cheat, often on a small scale. Can also be used to describe avoiding giving a direct answer to a question.
|
Examples of usage
- The witness was caught prevaricating during the cross-examination.
- Some politicians are known to prevaricate to avoid taking a clear stance on controversial issues.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Studies show that people often prevaricate to avoid conflict or maintain social harmony in group settings.
- Cognitive dissonance can lead individuals to prevaricate when their beliefs do not align with their actions.
- Research indicates that habitual liars may become increasingly detached from reality, complicating their ability to perceive truth.
Literature
- In classic tales, characters who prevaricate often find themselves caught in webs of deception, illustrating moral lessons about honesty.
- The term is frequently used in satire and poetry to criticize politicians and leaders who evade frankness.
- Notable works, such as George Orwell's '1984,' feature characters who prevaricate to survive oppressive regimes.
Pop Culture
- In various TV shows, characters are often portrayed as prevaricators, typically leading to humorous or dramatic misunderstandings.
- Political drama series frequently depict leaders prevaricating during press conferences, a reflection of real-world scenarios.
- Movies often feature protagonists who must navigate around prevaricating friends to uncover the truth.
Law
- Legal professionals may prevaricate to negotiate terms or avoid revealing certain truths during litigation.
- Witnesses in court are often cautioned against prevarication, as it can lead to serious repercussions like perjury charges.
- In legal jargon, prevaricating can diminish one's credibility and affect the outcome of a case.
Origin of 'prevaricate'
Main points about word origin
- Originates from the Latin word 'prevaricari,' which means 'to twist about' or 'to straddle,' reflecting the idea of twisting the truth.
- First recorded use in English dates back to the early 17th century, indicating long-standing usage in formal contexts.
- The related term 'varicate' means to vary, hinting at changing oneโs statements.
The word 'prevaricate' originated from the Latin word 'praevaricatus', which means 'to straddle' or 'to walk crookedly'. Over time, it evolved to mean speaking or acting in an evasive or deceitful manner. The term has been used in English since the 16th century, gaining popularity in the context of deception and dishonesty.