non-answer
Dodging the question
A non-answer is a response that avoids actually addressing the question asked.
Politicians are notorious for giving non-answers—replying with tangential remarks, deflections, or vague statements that sound like answers but contain no substance: When pressed about the scandal, she gave a carefully worded non-answer.
The term implies evasion, whether deliberate or incompetent.
Change in trajectory
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- circumventionAct of going around
runaround · equivocation · misdirection · obfuscation · hedging · stonewalling · filibuster · prevarication
Total lack of sound
- refusalAct of declining
- no commentRefusal to speak
- withholdingKeeping from another
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
stonewall · tight-lipped · mum · evasive · deflecting · lawyer · deposition · testimony
Rapid rotation around axis
- talking pointsPrepared discussion themes
- soundbiteBrief broadcast excerpt
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
platitude · boilerplate · scripted · rehearsed · canned · diplomatic · bureaucratic · press conference
Absence indicator in code
- blankWithout marks or content
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- voidWithout legal effect
empty · skipped · omitted · nonresponse · survey · questionnaire · respondent · field
deflection
Change in trajectory
circumvention · runaround · equivocation · misdirection · obfuscation · hedging · stonewalling · filibuster · prevarication · diversion
silence
Total lack of sound
- refusalAct of declining
- no commentRefusal to speak
- withholdingKeeping from another
uncooperative · stonewall · tight-lipped · mum · evasive · deflecting · lawyer · deposition · testimony · cross-examination
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- talking pointsPrepared discussion themes
- soundbiteBrief broadcast excerpt
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
doublespeak · platitude · boilerplate · scripted · rehearsed · canned · diplomatic · bureaucratic · press conference · spokesperson
null
Absence indicator in code
- blankWithout marks or content
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
void · empty · skipped · omitted · nonresponse · survey · questionnaire · respondent · field · entry
- avoidance tacticsdodge, evasion, deflection, misdirection, runaround
- evasionsno comment, dodge, deflection, hedging, equivocation
- weak responsesshrug, mumble, stammer, hesitation, evasion
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
non-answeranswer
Solution to query
response · reply · explanation · clarification · full disclosure
non, answer, answers, answered, answering, answerable, unanswerable, unanswered