Word: equivocate (verb)

Associations

"Equivocate" means to speak or act in a way that is not clear or is intentionally confusing, often to avoid telling the truth or making a clear decision.

• When a politician answers a question but doesn't give a direct answer, they equivocate. They want to avoid committing to one side.
• If someone is asked if they did something wrong and they give a vague or unclear answer, they are equivocating.
• In a debate, a person might equivocate to avoid admitting they are wrong. A well-known synonym is "prevaricate." The difference is that "prevaricate" often means to lie or avoid the truth more strongly, while "equivocate" focuses more on being unclear or ambiguous.

Substitution

Instead of "equivocate," you could say:

• "be vague" – but this is less about intention and more about not giving details.
• "beat around the bush" – means avoiding the main topic, similar but more informal.
• "prevaricate" – stronger, implies lying. Using these changes the tone slightly. "Equivocate" is about unclear or dodgy answers, but not always lying.

Deconstruction

The word "equivocate" comes from Latin:

• Prefix "equi-" means "equal" or "same."
• Root "voc-" means "voice" or "call."
• Suffix "-ate" turns it into a verb. Together, it means to "call equally" or "speak ambiguously," which fits the idea of not choosing one clear meaning.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone equivocated instead of giving a clear answer?
• Why might a person choose to equivocate rather than tell the truth?
• How does equivocating affect trust in communication?