What is a word that means to avoid making an admission or confession?

Question

For example:

Person A says "Stop -------ing" because Person B person was intentionally trying to steer the conversation onto other topics and avoid admitting or confessing to something unpleasant. The key here is "intentional".

If it helps, I think the word I'm looking for starts with a D and ends with "ing".

What a weird post and even stranger answers. What do you people all think railroading means? The correct answer would be something along the lines of dominating. — lly, Jul 17 '23 at 14:13
Of course it doesn't help that the 'clarifying' 'explanation' used the same verb again xD which was part of the problem. — lly, Jul 17 '23 at 14:13

score 10 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 05 '11 at 00:49

10

You're probably looking for digress, to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.

There are various other words with much the same meaning - meander, wander, deviate, sidetrack, ramble, etc., but none are so tightly associated with discourse (particularly in speech).

answered Aug 05 '11 at 00:49

FumbleFingers

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Close!! The word I was actually looking for was "dissembling". But my example wasn't quite right. Thanks! – Case Aug 05 '11 at 00:56
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@Sharon: Digress is actually a much better fit than dissemble. You might check the definitions and some example usages. – Caleb Aug 05 '11 at 08:52
After further discussion on Meta, I'm removing this post as accepted since it doesn't match the current description of the question, and only partially matched though original, though this was the answer that was most helpful in getting to the actual solution, which is "dissembling". – Case Aug 05 '11 at 19:47

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

One option is deviating:

v. de·vi·at·ed, de·vi·at·ing, de·vi·ates

v.intr.

To turn aside from a course or way.

To depart, as from a norm, purpose, or subject; stray. See Synonyms at swerve.

v.tr.

To cause to turn aside or differ.

Another option, to continue your metaphor of railroading a conversation, is derailing:

intr. & tr.v. de·railed, de·rail·ing, de·rails

To run or cause to run off the rails.

To come or bring to a sudden halt:

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 05 '11 at 01:11

5

A term commonly used is "side-tracking" :

Stop sidetracking!

answered Aug 05 '11 at 01:11

Thursagen

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score -3 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 09 '11 at 18:03

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The word I was looking for is "dissembling".

answered Aug 09 '11 at 18:03

Case

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In that case you were asking the wrong question. To dissemble means to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs. That's not at all the same thing as railroading a conversation. Which actually means to forcibly steer it in a certain direction and not allow others to change the topic, whereas I admit my digressing usually implies unfocussed straying from the primary topic. – FumbleFingers Feb 10 '12 at 02:23
@FumbleFingers Yeah... This was so far out of left field and NONE of the answers (including yours somehow) had anything to do with the idea of railroading at all. I rephrased the entire thing from the ground up to get it closer to the intent. Look it over and fine tune it if you think I got it a little off. – lly Jul 17 '23 at 14:19

What is a word that means to avoid making an admission or confession?

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