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- Dictionarytergiversate/ˈtəːdʒɪvəˌseɪt/
verb
- 1. make conflicting or evasive statements; equivocate: "the more she tergiversated, the greater grew the ardency of the reporters for an interview"
- 2. change one's loyalties; abandon a belief or principle.
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Tergiversate is a verb that means to engage in tergiversation, which is to show reluctance or hesitation in making a decision or choice. The word comes from Latin and was first used in 1590.
Tergiversate means to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate. It comes from Latin tergiversātus, meaning "to turn one's back". See the origin, synonyms and usage of tergiversate.
Use the verb tergiversate when you need a fancy way to describe someone who's beating around the bush, or being deliberately unclear. A politician who really doesn't want to answer a reporter's question is likely to tergiversate, or talk and talk without ever taking a definitive stand.
Tergiversate means to make statements that deliberately hide the truth or that avoid answering a question directly, or to change your support from one person, group, or religion to another. Learn the pronunciation, origin, and usage notes of this formal verb.
Definition of 'tergiversate' Word Frequency. tergiversate in British English. (ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt ) verb (intransitive) 1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize. 2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Derived forms. tergiversation (ˌtergiverˈsation) noun.
Tergiversate means to use evasions or ambiguities, or to change sides or loyalties. Find the origin, pronunciation, and translations of this word, as well as related terms and examples.
Jun 2, 2024 · Learn the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, and translations of the verb tergiversate, which means to evade, equivocate, or change sides. Find out its etymology from Latin and its usage in English, Italian, and Spanish.
