prevaricator

[ pri-var-i-key-ter ]

noun

1. a person who speaks falsely; liar.
2. a person who speaks so as to avoid the precise truth; quibbler; equivocator.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevaricator¹

1535–45; < Latin praevāricātor; prevaricate, -tor

Example Sentences

He loved “the game of cops and robbers,” he recounted, and became an expert prevaricator.

From Los Angeles Times

Santos has styled himself as a theatrical prevaricator and a maximalist.

From Salon

In the year or so since he sashayed onto the national stage, Santos has styled himself as a theatrical prevaricator and a maximalist, slathering himself with illusionary power like a “Drag Race” contestant layers on cream eyeshadow.

From Salon

Yet many Britons confess they don’t really know Truss, not the way they knew Johnson — former London mayor, newspaper columnist, Brexit cheerleader, serial prevaricator.

From Washington Post

Not the way they knew Boris Johnson — former London mayor, newspaper columnist, colorful orator, serial prevaricator — when he took office just a few years ago.

From Washington Post