Prevaricate: meaning, definitions and examples

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prevaricate

 

[ prɪˈvær.ɪ.keɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

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

Examples of usage

  • He prevaricated when asked about his involvement in the scandal.
  • She tends to prevaricate when faced with difficult questions.
Context #2 | Verb

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

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

Translations of the word "prevaricate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 prevaricar

🇮🇳 टालमटोल करना

🇩🇪 ausweichen

🇮🇩 menghindar

🇺🇦 ухилятися від відповіді

🇵🇱 wykręcać się

🇯🇵 言葉を濁す

🇫🇷 éluder

🇪🇸 prevaricar

🇹🇷 gevelemek

🇰🇷 얼버무리다

🇸🇦 راوغ

🇨🇿 vykrucovat se

🇸🇰 vykrúcať sa

🇨🇳 支吾其词

🇸🇮 izogibati se odgovoru

🇮🇸 forðast svar

🇰🇿 жалтару

🇬🇪 თავიდან აცილება

🇦🇿 yayınmaq

🇲🇽 prevaricar

Etymology

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.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,530, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.