weasel word
Slippery linguistic dodge
A weasel word is a vague or ambiguous term used to make a claim seem more substantial or defensible than it is.
The phrase evokes a weasel supposedly sucking the contents from an egg while leaving the shell intact—the words look meaningful but have been emptied.
Politicians and advertisers favor weasel words: Some people say... , Studies suggest... , Up to fifty percent off.
The qualifier creates an escape hatch.
Causing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- half-truthDeceptive incomplete statement
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- distortTwist from original form
misrepresent · obfuscate · manipulate · doublespeak · euphemism · propaganda · misinformation · sugarcoat
Speak vaguely to mislead
- hedgeBoundary of planted shrubs
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
sidestep · dodge · waffle · vacillate · qualify · caveat · wiggle room · loophole
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- half-truthDeceptive incomplete statement
- spinRapid rotation around axis
distort · misrepresent · obfuscate · manipulate · doublespeak · euphemism · propaganda · misinformation · sugarcoat · whitewash
equivocate
Speak vaguely to mislead
- hedgeBoundary of planted shrubs
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
noncommittal · sidestep · dodge · waffle · vacillate · qualify · caveat · wiggle room · loophole · disclaimer
- languagelanguage, grammar, spelling, alphabet, letter
- empty talkidle talk, hot air, idle chatter, drivel, babble
- ambiguityambiguity, ambivalence, double meaning, vagueness, equivocation
weasel wordplain language
Easily understood communication
plain English · unvarnished truth · calling a spade a spade · telling it like it is · straight talk
weasel, word, weasels, words, weaselly, worded, wording, wordy, wordless