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prevaricateto speak or act in an evasive way; to avoid telling the truth

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to speak or act in an evasive way; to avoid telling the truth

Pronunciation (IPA): /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

Korean meaning: 얼버무리다, 말을 흐리다, 진실을 회피하다

Korean pronunciation: 프리**배**리케이트

Example Sentences

  • The politician began to prevaricate when reporters asked about his campaign finances.
  • Stop prevaricating and tell me where you hid my chocolate!
  • My cat seems to prevaricate when I ask who knocked over the flower pot.

prevaricate

VERB

//prɪˈværɪkeɪt//

to speak or act in an evasive way; to avoid telling the truth

prevaricate concept
💡 Concept

a sweating business executive shifts uncomfortably in his chair while looking away from two serious investigators across the table. He gestures vaguely with his hands while his mouth is open mid-sentence, clearly avoiding direct answers. The investigators lean forward with skeptical expressions and crossed arms, growing more frustrated. Their body language shows they recognize he's not being straightforward with them. One investigator taps a pen impatiently while papers spread across the table remain unaddressed. The executive continues to fidget and avoid eye contact as tension fills the room. someone speaking in an evasive way to avoid telling the truth

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/prɪˈværɪkeɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

🌳Etymology

Prefixpre--
Rootvaric-
Suffix--ate

Origin

From Latin praevaricatus, originally meaning 'to walk with legs spread apart' or 'to straddle.' It evolved to describe a lawyer who betrayed his client by colluding with the opposition, then broadened to mean 'to avoid telling the truth.'

🎵Rhyme

fabricateicatevindicate
fabricate
icate
vindicate

🔗Collocations

prevaricate about
prevaricate when questioned
tendency to prevaricate
prevaricate deliberately
prevaricate under oath

📝Examples

The politician began to prevaricate when reporters asked about his campaign finances.

😄 Fun example

Stop prevaricating and tell me where you hid my chocolate!

😄 Fun example

My cat seems to prevaricate when I ask who knocked over the flower pot.

The witness continued to prevaricate, making the lawyer increasingly frustrated.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

equivocateevadehedgedodgesidestep

Antonyms

clarifyspecifyelaborate

Related

fabricateobfuscatedissembletemporize

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