Word: prevaricate (verb)

Associations

"Prevaricate" means to avoid telling the truth or to speak in a way that is not clear, usually to avoid giving a direct answer. It is often used when someone is trying to be tricky or dishonest without lying outright.

• Example 1: The politician tended to prevaricate when asked about his plans. (He avoided giving a clear answer.)
• Example 2: Don't prevaricate—just tell me what really happened. (Don't avoid the truth.)
• Example 3: She prevaricated during the interview to hide her real feelings. (She was not straightforward.) A well-known synonym is "lie," but "prevaricate" usually means avoiding the truth indirectly, while "lie" means saying something false directly.

Substitution

Instead of "prevaricate," you can say:

• "evade" – to avoid answering directly (more about avoiding than lying)
• "equivocate" – to use unclear language to avoid the truth (very close in meaning)
• "beat around the bush" – an informal phrase meaning to avoid the main point Each word changes the tone: "prevaricate" sounds formal and a bit negative, "equivocate" is similar but often used in formal speech, and "beat around the bush" is casual.

Deconstruction

The word "prevaricate" comes from Latin:

• Prefix "pre-" means "before"
• Root "varic-" comes from Latin "varus" meaning "bent" or "crooked"
• Suffix "-ate" turns it into a verb So "prevaricate" literally means "to bend before" or "to be crooked," which fits the idea of not speaking straight or truthfully.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where someone might prevaricate instead of telling the truth?
• How is prevaricating different from simply being quiet or refusing to answer?
• Have you ever noticed someone prevaricating in a conversation? How did it make you feel?