Prevaricate

Definition: to speak or write evasively; to be disingenuous; to lie

In some cases, this is just another way to say “lie.” In other cases, it’s just heavily implied that someone is leaving out important information or being specifically misleading.

It comes from a Latin word meaning “to talk crookedly” or “to straddle.”

Reminds me a bit of mendacity.

Why I Looked It Up

This is one of those words I’ve seen my whole life, and just had wrong. I thought it meant “to be vague” or “to be undecided.” I think I got this from “varicate” sounding like “vary”?

I’m not sure why I finally looked it up. I must have seen it in some context that didn’t match what I thought.