no comment
Declining to respond
No comment is a stock phrase used to decline answering a question, especially from journalists or in legal contexts: When asked about the allegations, the senator said, "No comment.".
The phrase acknowledges the question while refusing to engage, often implying there's something the speaker doesn't want to reveal.
Outside formal settings, it's used humorously to deflect nosy questions.
Act of escaping detection
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- duckWaterbird that quacks
non-answer · stonewalling · deflect · elude · circumvent · skirt · parry · fend off
Organized media Q&A
- journalistNews profession practitioner
- reporterOne who gathers news
- interviewFormal questioning session
- spokespersonAuthorized representative communicator
PR · public relations · microphone · camera · on the record · off the record · media training · spin
Sensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- restraintControl over impulses
reserve · caution · circumspection · delicacy · judgment · consideration · thoughtfulness · finesse
Freedom from prejudice
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- neutralNot favoring any side
unbiased · objectivity · on the fence · noncommittal · reserved · guarded
evasion
Act of escaping detection
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
duck · non-answer · stonewalling · deflect · elude · circumvent · skirt · parry · fend off · equivocate
press conference
Organized media Q&A
- journalistNews profession practitioner
- reporterOne who gathers news
- interviewFormal questioning session
spokesperson · PR · public relations · microphone · camera · on the record · off the record · media training · spin · damage control
tact
Sensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
restraint · reserve · caution · circumspection · delicacy · judgment · consideration · thoughtfulness · finesse · propriety
impartiality
Freedom from prejudice
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
neutral · unbiased · objectivity · on the fence · noncommittal · reserved · guarded
- diplomatic languagewith all due respect, at this time, in good faith, mutual understanding, regrettably
- evasionsdodge, deflection, hedging, equivocation, non-answer
- Noncommittalneutral, undecided, on the fence, noncommittal, indifferent
- PR jargonspin, optics, messaging, talking points, soundbite
- PR tacticspress release, press conference, media kit, spokesperson, talking points
- expressions of disavowalnot me, no way, I deny it, never, not guilty
no commenton the record
Openly stated, quotable
speaking freely · holding forth · sounding off · speaking one's mind · going on record
no commentconfession
Admission of wrongdoing
exposé · full disclosure · tell-all · press release · exclusive interview
no commentfull disclosure
Withholding no information
outspoken · forthcoming · candid · tell-all · on the record