Word for talking in a non-committal way

Question

I've noticed that some people use words or phrases like can, could, seems like, it's likely, some people think, etc when they're talking and this makes it harder dispute what they're saying or arguing. In a way, they're much less likely to be wrong since they're not committing that much to what they're saying. I was wondering if there is word to describe this behavior.

For example, let's say you believe in some statement A. Instead of saying "A is true", you say "A is very likely to be true". This way, if someone says "A is not true because X, Y, Z" you can say "I didn't say it was true, I said it is very likely to be true. Therefore I wasn't wrong". This way you can get the same point across and not risk being wrong.

Weasel words do sound like what I'm looking for. Thanks. – Terry Anderson Mar 21 '17 at 18:19 — Terry Anderson, Mar 21 '17 at 18:19

vickyace · Answer 1 · 2017-03-21T17:02:07.443

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See equivocate at Oxford dictionary defined as

Use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

Also look up prevaricate.

edited Mar 21 '17 at 17:02

answered Mar 21 '17 at 16:51

vickyace

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Damn, ya beat me to it... – Aleksandr Hovhannisyan Mar 21 '17 at 16:51
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This answer was given years ago, but was downvoted. – Edwin Ashworth Mar 21 '17 at 19:58
@EdwinAshworth OMG – vickyace Mar 21 '17 at 20:01
In case @EdwinAshworth's reference was a little too subtle, see http://english.stackexchange.com/a/193655/131620 ! – k1eran Mar 21 '17 at 21:23
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@k1eran I noticed it then itself. Already voted to close. – vickyace Mar 21 '17 at 21:29

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 21 '17 at 18:43

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I think Stop hedging! is a perfectly common usage when urging someone not to...

hedge - to avoid a rigid commitment by qualifying or modifying a position so as to permit withdrawal (dictionary.com, sense 9)

answered Mar 21 '17 at 18:43

FumbleFingers

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Word for talking in a non-committal way

2 Answers2