It means to make a statement that does not provide the necessary information, often deliberately (such as when required to make an unwanted choice).
To equivocate implies deception or the avoidance of a specific commitment through the vague or ambiguous use of language. For instance, to avoid giving a definitive answer the historic Oracle of Delphi once prophesied to a king that if he went to war that day he could be assured that a great nation would be destroyed. The king desiring an answer to his question as to whether he would be victorious assumed the nation being destroyed would be that of his enemy. If he won he would credit the Oracle with prophetic powers, but if he lost and was conquered, the Oracle could claim that he had been warned. Which nation would be destroyed was not specified because the answer was an equivocation.
The verb to equivocate means
a. to use equivocal/ elusive language especially with intent to deceive
b. : to avoid committing oneself in what one says
The fallacy of equivocation, a term in logic, is used to describe a situation in which the conclusion, based on seemingly true premises, is invalid due to the equivocative use of language.
The word "equivocate" is a verb meaning to avoid making a clear statement by saying something that has more than one possible meaning; to use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth; a word for an action.Examples:"The politician was known to equivocate if asked about gay marriage.""I didn't like her new hairdo, but it was better to equivocate.""Please don't equivocate, tell me what you really think."
to avoid, to dodge, to escape, to elude, to shirk, to equivocate, to prevaricate
The verb to equivocate meansa. to use equivocal/ elusive language especially with intent to deceiveb. : to avoid committing oneself in what one saysThe fallacy of equivocation, a term in logic, is used to describe a situation in which the conclusion, based on seemingly true premises, is invalid due to the equivocative use of language.
Mean
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She tried to equivocate when asked about her involvement in the incident, but her shifting explanations only made her appear more suspicious.
To talk or act insincerely or misleadingly, to equivocate.
The word "equivocate" is a verb meaning to avoid making a clear statement by saying something that has more than one possible meaning; to use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth; a word for an action.Examples:"The politician was known to equivocate if asked about gay marriage.""I didn't like her new hairdo, but it was better to equivocate.""Please don't equivocate, tell me what you really think."
to avoid, to dodge, to escape, to elude, to shirk, to equivocate, to prevaricate
The past participle is equivocated. The present participle is equivocating.
Equivocate is making a statement that circumvents an outright statement of the truth.
Displacement doesn't directly equivocate to horsepower.
Synonyms of the word fudge: fake, misrepresent avoid, embellish, embroider, equivocate, evade, exaggerate, falsify, hedge, magnify, overstate, patch, shuffle, slant, stall
It can be, as a form of the verb "to waffle" meaning to waver, vacillate, or equivocate on a position.E.g The candidate waffles on the subject of illegal immigration.(* in British usage, it is more synonymous with blathering or circumlocution)Otherwise, waffles is a plural noun for a breakfast food.
William Lloyd Garrison fought against slavery by creating an antislavery newspaper. Also he quoted "I do not wish to speak, or write with moderation... I am earnest. I will not equivocate, I will not excuse, I will not retreat a single inch and I WILL BE HEARD."
No. In the very first issue of his anti-slavery newspaper, the Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison stated, "I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. . . . I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD."
The verb to equivocate meansa. to use equivocal/ elusive language especially with intent to deceiveb. : to avoid committing oneself in what one saysThe fallacy of equivocation, a term in logic, is used to describe a situation in which the conclusion, based on seemingly true premises, is invalid due to the equivocative use of language.