Tergiversate/tərˈdʒɪvərseɪt,ˈtɜːrdʒɪvərseɪt/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Political Context Often used when discussing politicians who frequently change their views. She was criticized for tergiversating during the debate. Pro Tip 2/3Frequent Changes Indicates switching positions or opinions more than once. The leader's tendency to tergiversate unsettled his supporters. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Implication Often carries a negative connotation, suggesting instability or unreliability. Voters dislike candidates who tergiversate on important policies.