weasel worded
Slippery with language
Weasel worded describes language that sounds substantive but hedges, qualifies, or evades commitment.
The phrase comes from the weasel's supposed ability to suck out an egg's contents while leaving the shell intact—weasel words hollow out a statement while preserving its appearance.
The contract was full of weasel-worded clauses that let them off the hook.
Politicians and corporate spokespeople are frequent offenders.
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
- sugar-coatedMade artificially pleasant
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- spinRapid rotation around axis
saying nothing · talking points · vague · misdirection · cover your bases · plausible deniability · imprecise · diplomatic language · hedging · hedge your bets · doublespeak · evasive · optics · watered-down · mealy-mouthed · ambiguous · wiggle room · veiled
weasel wordedstraightforward
Clear and uncomplicated
direct · plain-spoken · unambiguous · clear · blunt
weasel wordedunqualified
Lacking required credentials
categorical · unhedged · definitive · unconditional · absolute
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