The use or an instance of equivocal language

• waffle

  1. A light crisp cake made of batter and baked in a waffle iron.

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  1. A light crisp cake made of batter and baked in a waffle iron.

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• weasel word

  1. An equivocal word used to deprive a statement of its force or to evade a direct commitment.

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  1. An equivocal word used to deprive a statement of its force or to evade a direct commitment.

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• tergiversation

  1. The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal.
  2. The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation; fickleness.

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  1. The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal.
  2. The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation; fickleness.

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• shuffle

  1. To move with short sliding steps, without or barely lifting the feet:
  2. To dance casually with sliding and tapping steps.
  3. To shift from position to position or move from place to place:

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  1. To move with short sliding steps, without or barely lifting the feet:
  2. To dance casually with sliding and tapping steps.
  3. To shift from position to position or move from place to place:

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• prevarication

  1. A lie; deceitful or dishonest behavior; equivocation. A lie; deceitful or dishonest behavior; equivocation.

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  1. A lie; deceitful or dishonest behavior; equivocation. A lie; deceitful or dishonest behavior; equivocation.

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• euphemism

  1. A mild, indirect, or vague term for one that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive:
  2. The use of such terms:

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  1. A mild, indirect, or vague term for one that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive:
  2. The use of such terms:

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• equivoque

  1. An equivocal word or expression.
  2. A pun.
  3. A double meaning.

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  1. An equivocal word or expression.
  2. A pun.
  3. A double meaning.

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• equivocation

  1. The use of equivocal language.
  2. An equivocal statement or expression.

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  1. The use of equivocal language.
  2. An equivocal statement or expression.

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• ambiguity

  1. Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation:
  2. Something of doubtful meaning:

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  1. Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation:
  2. Something of doubtful meaning:

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To shut in on all sides

• surround

  1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle:
  2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication:
  3. Something, such as fencing or a border, that surrounds:

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  1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle:
  2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication:
  3. Something, such as fencing or a border, that surrounds:

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• ring

  1. A circular object, form, line, or arrangement.
  2. A small circular band, generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels, worn on the finger.
  3. A circular band used for carrying, holding, or containing something:

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  1. A circular object, form, line, or arrangement.
  2. A small circular band, generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels, worn on the finger.
  3. A circular band used for carrying, holding, or containing something:

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• hem

  1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
  2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
  3. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

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  1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
  2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
  3. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

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• girdle

  1. A belt or sash worn around the waist.
  2. Something that encircles like a belt.
  3. An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips to give the body a more slender appearance.

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  1. A belt or sash worn around the waist.
  2. Something that encircles like a belt.
  3. An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips to give the body a more slender appearance.

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• gird

  1. To encircle (a person or the part of the body) with a belt or band.
  2. To fasten or secure (clothing, for example) with a belt or band.
  3. To surround.

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  1. To encircle (a person or the part of the body) with a belt or band.
  2. To fasten or secure (clothing, for example) with a belt or band.
  3. To surround.

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• environ

  1. To encircle; surround:

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  1. To encircle; surround:

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• encompass

  1. To form a circle or ring around; encircle.
  2. To enclose; envelop:
  3. To have as part of something larger; include:

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  1. To form a circle or ring around; encircle.
  2. To enclose; envelop:
  3. To have as part of something larger; include:

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• encircle

  1. To form a circle around; surround:
  2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of:

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  1. To form a circle around; surround:
  2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of:

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• compass

  1. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
  2. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
  3. A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned.

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  1. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
  2. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
  3. A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned.

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• circle

  1. A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center.
  2. A planar region bounded by a circle.
  3. Something, such as a ring, shaped like such a plane curve.

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  1. A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center.
  2. A planar region bounded by a circle.
  3. Something, such as a ring, shaped like such a plane curve.

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• beset

  1. To attack from all sides.
  2. To trouble persistently; harass.
  3. To hem in; surround:

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  1. To attack from all sides.
  2. To trouble persistently; harass.
  3. To hem in; surround:

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• begird

  1. To encircle with or as if with a band.

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  1. To encircle with or as if with a band.

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To surround and advance upon

• hem

  1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
  2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
  3. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

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  1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
  2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
  3. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

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• envelop

  1. To wrap, enclose, or cover:
  2. To surround:

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  1. To wrap, enclose, or cover:
  2. To surround:

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• enclose

  1. To surround on all sides; close in:
  2. To fence in so as to prevent common use:
  3. To build or equip with a roof and walls:

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  1. To surround on all sides; close in:
  2. To fence in so as to prevent common use:
  3. To build or equip with a roof and walls:

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• close in

  1. To enclose, lock up inside something.

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  1. To enclose, lock up inside something.

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• besiege

  1. To surround with hostile forces:
  2. To crowd around; hem in:
  3. To harass or overwhelm, as with requests:

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  1. To surround with hostile forces:
  2. To crowd around; hem in:
  3. To harass or overwhelm, as with requests:

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To use evasive or deliberately vague language

• waffle

  1. A light crisp cake made of batter and baked in a waffle iron.

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  1. A light crisp cake made of batter and baked in a waffle iron.

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• pussyfoot

  1. To move stealthily or cautiously.
  2. To act or proceed cautiously or timidly to avoid committing oneself.

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  1. To move stealthily or cautiously.
  2. To act or proceed cautiously or timidly to avoid committing oneself.

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• weasel

  1. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela, having a long slender body, a long tail, short legs, and brownish fur that in many species turns white in winter.
  2. A person regarded as sneaky or treacherous.
  3. To be evasive; equivocate.

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  1. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela, having a long slender body, a long tail, short legs, and brownish fur that in many species turns white in winter.
  2. A person regarded as sneaky or treacherous.
  3. To be evasive; equivocate.

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• tergiversate

  1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.
  2. To change sides; apostatize.

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  1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.
  2. To change sides; apostatize.

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• shuffle

  1. To move with short sliding steps, without or barely lifting the feet:
  2. To dance casually with sliding and tapping steps.
  3. To shift from position to position or move from place to place:

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  1. To move with short sliding steps, without or barely lifting the feet:
  2. To dance casually with sliding and tapping steps.
  3. To shift from position to position or move from place to place:

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• euphemize

  1. To speak of or refer to by means of a euphemism.
  2. To use euphemisms.

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  1. To speak of or refer to by means of a euphemism.
  2. To use euphemisms.

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• equivocate

  1. To use equivocal language to deceive someone or avoid committing oneself to a position.

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  1. To use equivocal language to deceive someone or avoid committing oneself to a position.

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To avoid fulfilling or answering completely

• skirt

  1. The part of a garment, such as a dress or coat, that hangs freely from the waist down.
  2. A garment hanging from the waist and worn especially by women and girls.
  3. One of the leather flaps hanging from the side of a saddle.

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  1. The part of a garment, such as a dress or coat, that hangs freely from the waist down.
  2. A garment hanging from the waist and worn especially by women and girls.
  3. One of the leather flaps hanging from the side of a saddle.

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• sidestep

  1. To step aside:
  2. To dodge an issue or a responsibility.
  3. To step out of the way of.

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  1. To step aside:
  2. To dodge an issue or a responsibility.
  3. To step out of the way of.

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• evade

  1. To escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or deceit:
  2. To avoid complying with or fulfilling:
  3. To fail to make payment of (taxes).

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  1. To escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or deceit:
  2. To avoid complying with or fulfilling:
  3. To fail to make payment of (taxes).

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• duck

  1. Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
  2. A female duck.
  3. The flesh of a duck used as food.

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  1. Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
  2. A female duck.
  3. The flesh of a duck used as food.

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• dodge

  1. To avoid (a blow, for example) by moving or shifting quickly aside.
  2. To evade (an obligation, for example) by cunning, trickery, or deceit:
  3. To blunt or reduce the intensity of (a section of a photograph) by shading during the printing process.

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  1. To avoid (a blow, for example) by moving or shifting quickly aside.
  2. To evade (an obligation, for example) by cunning, trickery, or deceit:
  3. To blunt or reduce the intensity of (a section of a photograph) by shading during the printing process.

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