equivocate
verb/ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/
Frequency rank: #19,869 most common English word
Meaning
To use ambiguous or unclear language in order to avoid committing to a clear position or to mislead.

Example sentence
When asked whether he had taken the money, he began to equivocate rather than give a straight answer.
Synonyms & related words
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