weasel-word
weasel word
noun
a word used to temper the forthrightness of a statement; a word that makes one's views equivocal, misleading, or confusing.
Origin:
1895–1900, Americanism
1895–1900, Americanism
Related forms
wea·sel-word·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To weasel-word
WordNet
| weasel word | |
noun | |
| an equivocal qualification; a word used to avoid making an outright assertion |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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00:10
Weasel-word
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
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