Suggestion for someone who talks a lot but says little

Question

I know many politicians that avoid interview questions by talking a lot but not really communicating anything.

You could say that what they were saying was full of banalities or canned answers or that they were waffling, but is there a better word for this behaviour?

I'd like to say some thing like That response was a _____ or he\she is ___ing?

@Hank Mostly, it sounds a little informal but partly because there's a great deal of skill in talking for a long time without anyone noticing until afterwards that you actually haven't said anything at all. — BanksySan, Jan 11 '17 at 22:01
Related question (some answers that may be helpful): http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/49795/whats-a-word-for-avoiding-a-question-with-a-generic-fake-answer — Kristina Lopez, Jan 11 '17 at 23:12
@KristinaLopez Related, aye. They're both evasive. I was looking for something more subtle. — BanksySan, Jan 11 '17 at 23:21
Also related:What is a term or idiom for “blah blah blah” talk? — Mari-Lou A, Jan 12 '17 at 09:40

score 13 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

13

You can use bloviate and its various forms:

a style of empty, pompous political speech particularly associated with Ohio due to the term's popularization by United States President Warren G. Harding, who, himself a master of the technique, described it as "the art of speaking for as long as the occasion warrants, and saying nothing". The verb "to bloviate" is the act of creating bloviation.
_{from wikipedia}

to speak or write verbosely and windily
_{from m-w.com}

Thus, "that response was a bloviation" or "he/she is bloviating."

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

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answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:17

Hellion

59,365

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I like that, the word itself even sounds pompous and vacuous. – BanksySan Jan 11 '17 at 22:25
Bloviating seems to be a word that is becoming more well known. I'm seeing it used frequently in comments sections. While it is certainly an insult in ways, I think it is a more direct criticism of "emptiness" of the speech, without accusing someone of essentially lying(as equivocate does), or being afraid to take a stand(as waffling does) – Tom22 Jan 11 '17 at 22:40

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

9

The google dictionary defines windbag as :

a person who talks at length but says little of value.

One can say "he/she is a windbag", though it is not clear that "he/she is windbagging" is proper usage.

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

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answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:30

epsilon

2,202

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

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The word vacuous just occurred to me. (MW)

emptied of or lacking content

marked by lack of ideas or intelligence

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

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answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:26

BanksySan

404

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 12 '17 at 09:00

I think you're just looking for "dodging/avoiding the issue", or "beating around the bush".

As in "He or she is dodging the issue".

Slightly more than one word, hope it helps.

P.S. Maybe 'stonewalling'?

Delay or obstruct (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by being evasive. "she has also stonewalled queries about her love life"

score -1 · Answer 5 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

-1

I do not see a problem with waffling, but equivocate could work as a synonym.

Equivocate

verb

to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge.

(Dictionary)

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

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answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:02

Hank

4,978

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This does not address the 'talks a lot' aspect (without which OP becomes a multi-duplicate). – Edwin Ashworth Jan 11 '17 at 22:37
It also has a very heavy flavor of "lying" as it has come to be used. websters-merriams goes a step beyond the definition above: "to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive" That is a pretty stiff accusation if understood that way. – Tom22 Jan 11 '17 at 22:48

Suggestion for someone who talks a lot but says little

5 Answers5

Equivocate

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