11 Words For Someone Who Avoids Answering Questions

Some people deliberately choose to avoid answering questions. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get a straight response out of them. However, it’s not as difficult to come up with a word to describe these people. This article will help you with the best words for such cases!

What Do You Call Someone Who Avoids Answering Questions?

There are plenty of choices we can use for this situation. Why not check out the following to see which works best for you:

• Prevaricator
• Equivocate
• Circumvent
• Dodger
• Obfuscator
• Subterfuge
• Pivoter
• Evader
• Fudger
• Avoider
• Welcher

The preferred version is “prevaricate.” It works well to show that someone is happy to avoid answering a question honestly. Usually, they’ll come up with all kinds of random answers that vaguely answer a question without giving anything away that might make them look bad.

Prevaricator

“Prevaricator” is a great way to show that someone avoids answering questions. We can use it to show that someone does not want to tell the truth (often because it reflects badly on them). Instead, they’ll come up with more lies that don’t directly answer anything useful.

The definition of “prevaricate,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to avoid telling the truth or saying exactly what you think.”

Here are some examples that might be helpful to you:

• I didn’t mean to sound like a prevaricator, but I really couldn’t think of a better way to answer that.
• He is prevaricating again. What can we say now to try and catch him out with his lies?
• She keeps up the prevication. It’s time for more drastic measures!

Equivocate

“Equivocate” works well to show that someone does not like answering questions honestly. While they might still choose to answer, they will avoid the truth as it will often mean that they will admit to something that they have done wrong.

The definition of “equivocate,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to speak in a way that is intentionally not clear and confusing to other people, especially to hide the truth.”

These examples will help you to make sense of it:

• He keeps equivocating, which is why we’ll never get to the truth!
• You need to stop equivocating the matter and start being honest with us.
• Can we call him out for his equivocation yet? I think I’ve heard enough!

Circumvent

“Circumvent” shows that someone avoids answering questions by stepping around the truth. They will answer a question with clever words that seem to make sense but don’t give the overall picture and don’t satisfy the answer that was expected.

The definition of “circumvent,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to avoid something, especially cleverly or illegally.”

Some of these examples should help you work this one:

• I didn’t mean to circumvent the question at the time, but you’ve all made it clear that you despise me for it.
• He tried to circumvent the original question, so we should pester him about it.
• Stop circumventing the topic! It’s time you gave us an honest answer!

Dodger

“Dodger” is a simple word we can use to show that someone wants to dodge an answer. It can be a tricky way for them to get out of saying something that might tarnish their reputation, which is why it works well.

The definition of “dodge,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a clever, dishonest way of avoiding something.”

These examples will help you make sense of it:

• She’s dodging the questions yet again! At this point, how can we ever trust her?
• You’re a dodge, Mr. Walker. Please start answering these questions more honestly in the future!
• You don’t have to be a dodger to annoy people, but it certainly helps when you see their faces!

Obfuscator

“Obfuscator” works well to show that someone refuses to answer a question properly. Instead, they’ll come up with a lot of confusing language and techniques that make people think about nothing in particular. This usually encourages them to drop the original question.

The definition of “obfuscate,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to make something less clear and harder to understand, especially intentionally.”

These examples will help you make more sense of it:

• That candidate is nothing more than an obfuscator! Don’t listen to a word he says during the debate.
• Stop obfuscating and start answering! We need to know where you stand on this matter before it’s too late.
• Can you just be honest and stop obfuscating? I hate that!

Subterfuge

“Subterfuge” works when we want to talk about the type of answers someone might give. They rarely answer questions, but instead of avoiding them, they come up with clever and tricky answers that are designed to confuse people.

The definition of “subterfuge,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a trick or a dishonest way of achieving something.”

Here are some examples to help you out:

• You keep feeding us subterfuge, but we’re wise to your tricks now!
• He always comes up with subterfuge, but we can never find a way to phrase our questions that catches him off-guard.
• As far as politicians go, he’s the best there is when it comes to subterfuge! Credit where credit is due!

Pivoter

“Pivoter” is a good way to show that someone doesn’t answer questions correctly. Often, they will “pivot” their viewpoint and original answer to try and suit the needs or question at the time. They do this to please the crowd rather than be honest.

The definition of “pivot,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to change your opinions, statements, decisions, etc. so that they are different to what they were before.”

Check out these examples to see how it works:

• You’re pivoting again! Why don’t you try and be more honest with us!
• You need to stop being a pivoter. We can’t keep going through the same problems again and again while trying to get an answer from you.
• You pivoted on your point from before Mr. President. Do you stand by this new one now?

Evader

“Evader” works for somebody who needs to escape from an awkward situation. In this case, the awkwardness comes from the question that someone has asked. Evaders will try and get out of the situation entirely rather than come up with an excuse.

The definition of “evade,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to avoid or escape from someone or something.”

Here are a couple of examples to help you with this one:

• Oh, I wouldn’t worry much about anything he says. He’s notorious for evading the public’s questions.
• You’re an evader, yet again, Mrs. Smith! Please just answer the questions and prove that you had no idea about this scheme.
• Stop being an evader and give me an honest answer!

Fudger

“Fudger” works when we want to show that someone avoids coming to a decision. If a question asks for a final outcome or choice, a fudger will often try to avoid it or come up with an excuse as to why they aren’t equipped to answer it right away.

The definition of “fudge,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to avoid making a decision or giving a clear answer about something.”

Some of these examples will make more sense of it:

• The Prime Minister is notorious for fudging his answer. Don’t get overzealous because he’ll kick you out.
• I don’t think you can get a straight answer out of a fudger like him, unfortunately.
• You might as well just call him “Fudge.” He’s never answered a question honestly in his life.

Avoider

“Avoider” works well to show that someone is happy to stay away from answering questions. Usually, these questions present a difficult answer for the person who is expected to answer it, so they would rather not say anything at all.

The definition of “avoid,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to stay away from someone or something, or prevent something from happening, or not allow yourself to do something.”

Maybe some of these examples will help you with this one:

• He is a question avoided, through and through. You won’t get a single answer out of him that will satisfy you.
• Do you have to avoid every single question we through at you? We knew you would be difficult, but not like this!
• I don’t like to answer questions, so you can call me an avoider all you want!

Welcher

“Welcher” works well to show that someone is uncomfortable answering a question. Usually, this word relates to questions that someone might have previously agreed to answer. However, when faced with it, they shy away and try to avoid the truth.

The definition of “welch,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to avoid doing something you have promised to do, especially not to pay a debt.”

Here are some examples that might help you with this one:

• He is a welcher, and you can never get an honest answer out of him. Honestly, don’t even try!
• You don’t have to be such a welcher. It wouldn’t hurt you to finally answer one of our questions, Mr. President.
• I can’t stand welchers! They always avoid my questions, even when they promised they wouldn’t this time!

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