tergiversate

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
2. (intransitive) To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
3. (intransitive, rare) To flee by turning one's back.

Synonyms

equivocate

prevaricate

apostatize

dodge

apostatise

palter

evade

beat around the bush

stall

careen

circuit

circulate

come

contradict

destabilize

disclaim

dispense with

divest

drop out

elude

falter

flounder

forego

forgo

give

give up

go

go over

hedge

lapse

lurch

move around

part with

pass

pass through

put off

quibble

reel

relinquish

renounce

rove

run across

shift

shillyshally

shirk

shuffle

shun

sign away

skirt

stagger

Translations

tergiversar

tergiversar

tergiverser

tergiversare

apostatar

tergiversar

ارتد

verfehlen

اِرْتدّ

vorübergehen

vorüberziehen

vorüberfahren

πηγαίνω

πεθαίνω

kommen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɜːd͡ʒɪvəseɪt/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tergiversātus, perfect active participle of tergiversor (“to evade, to avoid, to turn one's back on”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from tergum (“back, hind”) + versor (“to turn”). Compare French tergiverser.