“Equivocate,” “prevaricate,” and “procrastinate” are verbs that describe different types of avoidance behaviors, but each has a distinct focus and context. “Equivocate” involves using ambiguous language to avoid giving a clear answer, often to mislead. “Prevaricate” specifically refers to deviating from the truth or outright lying. “Procrastinate” is concerned with delaying or deferring actions. Understanding these differences is crucial for precise communication, especially in contexts that require clarity in intent or action.
Equivocate
Definition:
“Equivocate” means to use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself to a clear standpoint, often with the intent to mislead.
Examples of use:
Political speech: During the debate, the candidate equivocated on several issues, providing answers that were vague and non-committal to avoid alienating potential voters.
Negotiations: He equivocated during the negotiations, giving complex and ambiguous answers to avoid revealing his client’s real intentions.
Legal testimony: The witness equivocated throughout the questioning, never directly answering the lawyer’s queries.
Prevaricate
Definition:
“Prevaricate” means to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead or lie.
Examples of use:
Journalistic integrity: As a journalist, she knew the importance of directness and saw no reason to prevaricate in her reports.
Legal ethics: The attorney was reprimanded for attempting to prevaricate the facts in an effort to protect his client.
Personal relationships: He found it difficult to trust others because of his tendency to prevaricate, even about minor issues.
Procrastinate
Definition:
“Procrastinate” means to delay or postpone action; to put off doing something, usually out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
Examples of use:
Academic work: She often procrastinated on her assignments, waiting until the last minute to start her research papers.
Decision making: Why did the judges continue to procrastinate about a decision, causing unnecessary delays in the court proceedings?
Personal goals: He realized that procrastinating on his fitness goals was only harming his health, so he decided to start attending the gym regularly.
While “equivocate,” “prevaricate,” and “procrastinate” all involve some form of avoidance or delay, they apply to different contexts and actions. “Equivocate” relates to being intentionally ambiguous or vague, “prevaricate” involves lying or straying from the truth, and “procrastinate” refers to delaying tasks or decisions. Properly distinguishing between these terms can enhance the accuracy and clarity of communication, especially in professional, academic, and personal contexts where clear intentions and timely actions are critical.
