Equivocation (Noun)
Meaning 1
A statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician's response to the question about the scandal was a masterful example of equivocation, allowing her to sidestep the issue without technically lying.
- When asked about the company's financial troubles, the CEO's statement about "restructuring" was a clever equivocation that avoided the word "bankruptcy".
- The lawyer's equivocation about the defendant's whereabouts on the night of the crime was enough to raise suspicions, but not enough to prove guilt.
- The company's claim that their product was "eco-friendly" was an equivocation that sounded good but didn't actually mean anything.
- The professor's equivocation about the student's chances of getting into graduate school was a gentle way of saying "no" without crushing their hopes.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Intentionally vague or ambiguous.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The politician's equivocation on the tax reform issue made it difficult to pin down her exact stance.
- Her ambiguous apology was met with skepticism, as many believed it was a classic case of equivocation to avoid taking responsibility.
- The professor's use of equivocation in her response to the question only added to the students' confusion about the topic.
- The company's press release was full of equivocation, failing to provide any concrete answers to the pressing concerns.
- The writer's deliberate equivocation on the main character's motivations made the story's plot twists and turns hard to predict.