Synonym Chooser

How does the verb palter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of palter are equivocate, fib, lie, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

When is equivocate a more appropriate choice than palter?

While the synonyms equivocate and palter are close in meaning, equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

When is it sensible to use fib instead of palter?

The words fib and palter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When can lie be used instead of palter?

Although the words lie and palter have much in common, lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another, in the sense of palter?

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of palter Rather than wait to share the witches’ paltering pronouncements with Lady M (Indira Varma) in person, the thane of Glamis chooses to send word to his wife in advance of his return from battle. Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palter
Verb
  • That summer, the Sussexes went quiet, their Spotify deal having collapsed in June, and in the vacuum of information rumors swirled of a secret split, with some websites even citing an $80 million suit.
    Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Cyber Monday 2024 Deals Best Cyber Monday deals for holiday shoppers Top holiday discounts under $100 Apple products marked down for Cyber Monday sales Patel, a staunch Trump ally, has echoed the former president’s plans for retribution.
    Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Forum helps match clients with tutors who fit their needs, handles payments, negotiates rates for each tutor and markets them.
    Emma Whitford, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Thousands of Amazon workers at the company's first-ever unionized warehouse voted to authorize a strike on Friday, claiming the tech giant has refused to recognize the union and negotiate a contract at the New York City facility.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • City of Irving Prop A, Allow Collective Bargaining for Fire Fighters Measure: Allowing firefighters to collectively bargain upon a majority vote of the affected employees, while maintaining prohibitions and penalties for strikes and lockouts.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Oct. 2024
  • The Teamsters Locals also sought to bargain minimum duration of employment language for casting directors, significantly elevated associate casting director compensation and standard union benefits for casting assistants, who unionized not long before negotiations began.
    Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • As the Senate haggles over how to fill Trump’s Cabinet, many of his allies are campaigning for the nominations.
    Adriana Gomez Licon, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024
  • The advocates blast Biden for haggling with the GOP over immigration in order to secure new funding to help Ukraine beat back Russia’s invasion.
    Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near palter

Cite this Entry

“Palter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palter. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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