prevaricate Meaning & Definition
What Does Prevaricate Mean?
As a verb, prevaricate means To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from). It can also mean To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.
Word Facts for Prevaricate
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pɹɪˈvaɹɪkeɪt/ |
| Synonyms | palter, equivocate and tergiversate |
| Verb forms | prevaricates, prevaricating, prevaricated |
Prevaricate Definition (Verb)
- To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).
- To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.
The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.
- To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
- To undertake something falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Verb
- To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.
The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.
Synonyms of Prevaricate
Prevaricate synonyms and antonyms →Prevaricate in a Sentence
The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.
Word Forms & Grammar
prevaricate (third-person singular simple present prevaricates, present participle prevaricating, simple past and past participle prevaricated)
Words That Rhyme With Prevaricate
Origin of Prevaricate
Borrowed from Latin praevāricātus, perfect active participle of praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; to play a false or double part”), from prae- + vāricō (“to stand with feet apart, straddle”), from vāricus (“with feet spread apart”); see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Common Questions About Prevaricate
What part of speech is prevaricate?
Prevaricate is a verb.
What is another word for prevaricate?
Words with a similar meaning to prevaricate include palter, equivocate and tergiversate. See the full list of prevaricate synonyms and antonyms.
What is the past tense of prevaricate?
The past tense of prevaricate is prevaricated. The present participle is prevaricating.