| Main Entry: | weasel word |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | confusing word |
Synonyms: |
confusing statement, dodge, equivocal saying, evasion, misleading statement, misleading word, suppressio veri, waffling |
| Main Entry: | tergiversation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | equivocation |
Synonyms: |
ambiguity, amphibology, casuistry, coloring, con, cop out, cover, cover-up, deceit, deception, deceptiveness, delusion, dissimulation, distortion, double entendre, double meaning, double talk, doubtfulness, duplicity, equivocality, equivoque, euphemism, evasion, fallacy, fib, fibbing, hedge, hedging, lie, line*, lying, misrepresentation, prevarication, quibbling routine, run-around, shuffle, shuffling, song and dance, song*, sophistry, speciousness, spuriousness, stall, stonewall, waffle, weasel word |
| Concept: | Tergiversation. |
| Category: | 1. Acts of volition |
Synonyms: |
-nouns
change of mind, change of intention, change of purpose; afterthought., tergiversation, recantation; palinode, palinody; renunciation; abjuration, abjurement; defection (relinquishment); going over; apostasy; retraction, retractation; withdrawal; disavowal (negation); revocation, revokement; reversal; repentance; redintegratio amoris., coquetry; vacillation; backsliding; volte-face., turncoat, turn tippet; rat, apostate, renegade; convert, pervert; proselyte, deserter; backslider; blackleg, crawfish [U.S.], scab, mugwump [U.S.], recidivist., time server, time pleaser; timist, Vicar of Bray, trimmer, ambidexter; weathercock (changeable); Janus.
-verbs
change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note; abjure, renounce; withdraw from (relinquish); waver, vacillate; wheel round, turn round, veer round; turn a pirouette; go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another; go to the rightabout; box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack; do a 360., apostatize, change sides, go over, rat; recant, retract; revoke; rescind (abrogate); recall; forswear, unsay; come over, come round to an opinion; crawfish [U.S.], crawl [U.S.]., draw in one's borns, eat one's words; eat the leek, swallow the leek; swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it; come back to one's first love, return to one's first love; turn over a new leaf (repent)., trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds; nager entre deux eaux; wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.
-adjectives
changeful; irresolute; ductile, slippery as an eel, trimming, ambidextrous, timeserving; coquetting; revocatory, reactionary.
-phrases
"a change came o'er the spirit of my dream" [Byron].
|
| Browse Concept Index » | |