Prevaricate is used when someone doesn't answer questions directly, often to avoid the truth. When asked about his plans for the weekend, he prevaricated, mentioning many possible options.
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Hiding Discomfort
People might prevaricate when they feel uncomfortable or want to avoid conflict. She prevaricated on her opinion about the movie, not wanting to upset her friends who loved it.
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Delaying Tactics
Prevaricating can be a strategy to delay or avoid making a decision or commitment. He prevaricated on his project deadline, mentioning various unforeseen complications.