Prevarication became the order of the day in his government while truth was a stranger in those halls.
Source: wiktionary
Prevarication
/pɹɪˌvæɹ.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
Synonyms for "prevarication" (101 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (21)
Strong matches (30)
Noun(6 words)
exaggerationfairy talefalse coloringfalse swearingfalsehoodfalsificationfalsifyingfalsityfarfetched storyfarragofencingfibfictionfish storyflamflannelflimflamghost storyhairsplittinghalf truth
Show 4 more words
Related words (50)
libellielittle white lielogic choppinglogic-choppingmendacitymiscoloringmisconstructionmisrepresentationmisstatementmythnit pickingnit-pickingpalteringparryingperjuryperversionpettifoggerypious fictionpussyfooting
Show 24 more words
quibblingromanceshiftingshuffleshufflingsidesteppingslight stretchingsongstorystrainingsubterfugesuppressio veritaletall storytall taletaradiddletergiversationtrichoschistismtrumped-up storyuntruthweasel wordweasel wordswhite lieyarn
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: equivocation, lie, bickering, blague, boggling.
- Sentence evidence is available for prevarication, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "prevarication".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "prevarication"
Keep "prevarication" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "prevarication" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "prevarication", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "prevarication" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdegree of prevaricationdeliberate prevaricationevidence of prevaricationhabitual prevaricationpolitical prevaricationverbal prevarication
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
The trumpet—vvill it ſound? the curtain riſe? And ſhow th' auguſt tribunal of the ſkies, / VVhere no prevarication ſhall avail, / VVhere eloquence and artifice ſhall fail, […]
Source: wiktionary
The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the false touches that no eye detects but his own, are worn as lightly as mere trimmings when once the actions have become a lie.
Source: wiktionary
Mr Rajoy frustrates many with his prevarication over a fresh euro-zone bail-out, which now comes with a conditional promise from the European Central Bank (ECB) to help bring down Spain’s stifling borrowing costs.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "prevarication"?
Closest matches include equivocation, lie, bickering, blague, boggling.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "prevarication"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.