Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
weasel-words
noun
/ˈwiːzəl wɜrdz/
Definition
Words or phrases that are intentionally vague or ambiguous, often used to mislead or avoid making a direct statement.
Examples
- The politician employed weasel-words to dodge the question about his policies.
- Advertisers often use weasel-words to make their claims sound impressive without guaranteeing results.
- When asked about the delay, she replied with a lot of weasel-words, avoiding the real issue.
Meaning
Weasel-words are used to make statements seem more convincing or safe without committing to them fully.
Synonyms
- Equivocation
- Ambiguity
- Prevarication
- Evasion
- Subterfuge
