What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
circumlocute
Example
He tends to circumlocute when asked a straightforward question. [circumlocute: verb]
Example
Her essay was filled with circumlocution, making it difficult to understand her main point. [circumlocution: noun]
prevaricate
Example
Politicians are known to prevaricate when faced with difficult questions. [prevaricate: verb]
Example
His prevarication only added to the confusion and mistrust surrounding the situation. [prevarication: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prevaricate is more commonly used than circumlocute in everyday language. Prevaricate is often employed to describe situations where someone is intentionally avoiding the truth or being deceptive. In contrast, circumlocute is less common and tends to be used in more formal contexts to describe excessive or indirect language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between circumlocute and prevaricate?
While circumlocute is associated with a more formal tone due to its less common usage, prevaricate is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe intentional deception or evasion.
