prevaricate: 支吾其词; to deviate from the truth: equivocate
1) to lie or deviate from the truth
2) to speak equivocally or evasively, i.e., to lie
Syn: deceive, equivocate, misrepresent, lie, perjure
prevaricate : deceive
prevaricate : truth
prevaricate : deceit
prevaricate : dishonesty
1. Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee prevaricated and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work ontime.
2. Do not prevaricate about who did what or why; simply tell me how the vase got broken.
The mayors desperate attempt to prevaricate about the scandal was transparent to the voters.
His mother knew no one else could have done it, but the child foolishly prevaricated about the stain on the rug.
prevaricate : deceive = exhortation : encourage
prevaricate : deceive = filibuster : delay :: blandishment : coax
equivocate : clarity = prevaricate : truth
prevaricate : deceit = filibuster : delay