What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tergiversate
Example
The politician tried to tergiversate when asked about his stance on the controversial issue. [tergiversate: verb]
Example
Her tergiversation made it difficult to understand her true intentions. [tergiversation: noun]
equivocate
Example
He equivocated when asked about his involvement in the scandal. [equivocated: verb]
Example
Her equivocation made it hard to know what she really thought about the matter. [equivocation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Equivocate is more commonly used than tergiversate in everyday language. Equivocate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tergiversate is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tergiversate and equivocate?
While equivocate can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts, tergiversate is more formal and less commonly used.
