equivocations
Slippery verbal dodges
Equivocations are deliberately ambiguous or misleading statements—language designed to deceive without technically lying.
A politician's equivocations allow later denial: His equivocations about the funding left everyone confused about his actual position.
The word implies calculated vagueness rather than honest uncertainty.
Openness to multiple interpretations
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- hedgingNoncommittal maneuvering
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
prevarication · obfuscation · dodging · weaseling · duplicity · double-dealing · insincerity · dissembling
Noncommittal maneuvering
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- fence-sittingRefusing to take sides
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
- caveatWarning or qualification
reservation · careful wording · diplomatic language · measured response · plausible deniability · loopholes · bureaucratese · officialese
Error in reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- invalid argumentReasoning that doesn't hold
- reasoning errorFlaw in logical thinking
- logical flawError in reasoning
double meaning · premise · sophism · philosophical debate · Aristotle · argumentation · dialectic · refutation
ambiguity
Openness to multiple interpretations
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- hedgingNoncommittal maneuvering
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
misleading · prevarication · obfuscation · dodging · weaseling · duplicity · double-dealing · insincerity · dissembling · misdirection
hedging
Noncommittal maneuvering
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- fence-sittingRefusing to take sides
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
caveat · reservation · careful wording · diplomatic language · measured response · plausible deniability · loopholes · bureaucratese · officialese · wiggle room
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- invalid argumentReasoning that doesn't hold
- reasoning errorFlaw in logical thinking
logical flaw · double meaning · premise · sophism · philosophical debate · Aristotle · argumentation · dialectic · refutation
equivocationsplain speech
Unembellished verbal expression
directness · candor · bluntness · plain talk · forthrightness
equivocationscertainties
Assured truths
declarations · affirmations · avowals · confirmations · absolutes
equivocationstruths
Accurate statements about reality
candor · full disclosures · confessions · forthrightness · openness