Prevaricate
/prɪˈværɪˌkeɪt/
verbC2
Definition
To prevaricate is to speak or act in a way that avoids giving a clear, direct answer. People prevaricate when they do not want to tell the truth or want to hide the real facts. It is different from simply lying because it often involves being unclear or vague rather than directly saying something false.
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See It in Action
To avoid giving a direct or clear answer, often to hide the truth
- •When asked about the mistake, he started to prevaricate instead of telling what really happened.
- •She prevaricated during the interview because she did not want to reveal her real opinion.
- •Politicians sometimes prevaricate to avoid difficult questions.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "prevaricate" like "avoid" (A1 word), but with words—it means avoiding the truth by not giving a clear answer
- ✓Picture someone walking around a question like a circle, never going straight to the point
- ✓It's the feeling when someone talks a lot but you still don’t know what they really mean
- ✓Sounds like "pre-VA-rick-ate" → imagine a parrot named "Rick" who keeps talking but never answers your question
- ✓Imagine a politician answering a question but using many words to hide the real answer
- ✓NOT like "lie" (directly false), prevaricate is more about unclear or confusing speech to avoid truth
- ✓NOT like "explain" (clear and honest), prevaricate is unclear and confusing on purpose
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (not answer at all), prevaricate means to answer but in a confusing or unclear way
Try Other Words
- •Equivocate: to use unclear language to hide the truth (Use when the unclear speech is deliberate to confuse)
- •Dodge: to avoid a question or responsibility (Use when the focus is on avoiding directly, often physically or verbally)
- •Beat around the bush: to talk without getting to the point (Use in informal speech to describe unclear or evasive talking)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "pre-" (before) + root "varicare" (Latin for straddle or avoid) → literally "to straddle before," meaning to avoid a straight line or direct answer
- •Etymology: From Latin "praevaricari," meaning to walk crookedly or act deceitfully
- •Historical development: Used since the late 1500s to describe avoiding the truth or being deliberately unclear
- •Modern usage: Often used to describe someone avoiding direct answers, especially in formal or serious speech
Reflect & Connect
•Why might people choose to prevaricate instead of telling the truth directly?
•How can prevarication affect trust in relationships or communication?
Fill in the blanks
1.When asked about the problem, he began to prevaricate because he wanted to ___ the truth.
2.Politicians often prevaricate ___ difficult questions to avoid giving clear answers.
3.Prevaricate is different from lying because it means being ___ or unclear, not always directly false.
4.People who prevaricate usually do not want to ___ responsibility or blame.
5.Instead of answering, she prevaricated and ___ around the topic without giving details.
6.You can tell someone is prevaricating when their answers are ___ and confusing.
7.Prevaricate is like talking ___ the bush, using many words but not the real answer.