verb
1.
Synonyms: lie , falsify, fib, palter, prevaricate
Related Word: elude, escape, evade
2.
to avoid committing oneself by speaking evasively
he'd rather be brutally frank with them than equivocate on that issue
Synonyms: dodge, evade, hedge, pussyfoot, shuffle, sidestep, tergiversate, tergiverse, weasel; compare skirt 3
Related Word: cavil, prevaricate, quibble; fence, parry; avoid, elude, eschew
Idioms: beat around ( or about) the bush, beg the question, mince words