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

America has had prevaricators in the Oval Office before, but never one who has been at war with the truth as regularly, on so many different subjects.

From Seattle Times

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