What does equivocate mean?
Equivocate means (intransitive) To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive; to vacillate in one's answers, responding with equivoques..
Equivocate
/ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/ · verb
Meaning
(intransitive) To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive; to vacillate in one's answers, responding with equivoques..
Definitions by Sense
- (intransitive) To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive; to vacillate in one's answers, responding with equivoques.
- (transitive) To render equivocal or ambiguous.
Example Sentences
Knock. Knock, knock. Who's there in th'other Deuils Name? Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could ſweare in both the Scales againſt eyther Scale, who committed Treaſon enough for Gods ſake, yet could not equiuocate to Heauen: oh come in, Equiuocator.
All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate.
He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation
Synonyms for equivocate
Antonyms for equivocate
Related Words
Word Forms
- equivocates
- equivocating
- equivocated
- æquivocate
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for equivocate?
Common synonyms include prevaricate, evade, shuffle, adumbrate.
What is the opposite of equivocate?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use equivocate in a sentence?
Knock. Knock, knock. Who's there in th'other Deuils Name? Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could ſweare in both the Scales againſt eyther Scale, who committed Treaſon enough for Gods ſake, yet could not equiuocate to Heauen: oh come in, Equiuocator.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
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