Antonyms for prevarication


Grammar : Noun
Spell : pri-var-i-key-shuh n
Phonetic Transcription : prɪˌvær ɪˈkeɪ ʃən


Definition of prevarication

Origin :
  • late 14c., "divergence from a right course, transgression," from Old French prevaricacion "breaking of God's laws, disobedience (to the Faith)" (12c., Modern French prévarication) and directly from Latin praevaricationem (nominative praevaricatio) "duplicity, collusion, a stepping out of line (of duty or behavior)," noun of action from past participle stem of praevaricari "to make a sham accusation, deviate," literally "walk crookedly," in Church Latin, "to transgress," from prae "before" (see pre-) + varicare "to straddle," from varicus "straddling," from varus "bowlegged, knock-kneed" (see varus). Meaning "evasion, quibbling" is attested from 1650s.
  • noun deception
  • noun lie
Example sentences :
  • Calendar, he believed, was capable of prevarication, polite and impolite.
  • Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
  • There was no prevarication or difficulty with the only witness examined.
  • Extract from : « Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1) » by Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
  • He had so ingenious a manner of prevarication that he actually believed his own tales.
  • Extract from : « A Pirate of Parts » by Richard Neville
  • I scorn a lie—my prayer is to leave every prevarication behind.
  • Extract from : « Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13 » by Elbert Hubbard
  • Mind, I must have truthful and straightforward answers—no prevarication.'
  • Extract from : « Aunt Mary » by Mrs. Perring
  • His arm tightened over her hand, but he made no attempt at prevarication.
  • Extract from : « Big Game » by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
  • I never knew another man so fertile in the art of prevarication.
  • Extract from : « The House » by Eugene Field
  • Mrs. Danner, filled with consternation, sought refuge in prevarication.
  • Extract from : « Gladiator » by Philip Wylie
  • The question was too precisely put to allow of any prevarication.
  • Extract from : « The Clique of Gold » by Emile Gaboriau
  • They can perform prodigies of prevarication and get away with them.
  • Extract from : « Nothing But the Truth » by Frederic S. Isham

Synonyms for prevarication

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019