tergiversate

intr.v., -sat·ed, -sat·ing, -sates.

1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.
2. To change sides; apostatize.

[Latin tergiversārī, tergiversāt- : tergum, the back + versāre, to turn.]

tergiversation ter'gi·ver·sa'tion n.
tergiversator ter'gi·ver·sa'tor (-sā'tər) n.

verb

1. To use evasive or deliberately vague language: equivocate, euphemize, hedge, shuffle, weasel. Informal pussyfoot, waffle. Idioms: beat about/around the bush, mince words. See clear/unclear.
2. To abandon one's cause or party usually to join another: apostatize, defect, desert³, renegade, turn. Slang rat. Idioms: change sides, turn one's coat. See approach/retreat, trust/distrust.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
  Synonyms: equivocate, prevaricate, palter

Meaning #2: abandon one's beliefs or allegiances
  Synonyms: apostatize, apostatise

---

Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - vise vankelmodighed, skifte standpunkt

Nederlands (Dutch)
uitvluchten zoeken

Français (French)
v. intr. - tergiverser

Deutsch (German)
v. - Ausflüchte machen, sich widersprechen, abtrünnig werden, seine Haltung ändern

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - αποστατώ (από κόμμα κ.λπ.), αντιφάσκω

Italiano (Italian)
tergiversare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - tergiversar, vacilar, renegar

Русский (Russian)
быть отступником, ренегатом, увиливать, увертываться, готовиться к бегству

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - cambiar de idea, cambiar de camisa, usar evasivas

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - vackla, vara vankelmodig, ändra åsikt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
搪塞, 变节, 推托

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 搪塞, 變節, 推託

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 변절하다, 탈당하다, 속이다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 変節する, 言い紛らす

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يراوغ, يرتد عن معتقد او حزب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮שינה עמדותיו, בגד בעקרונות, ערק, היה הפכפך, התחמק‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.