Meaning of "weasel words" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD WEASEL WORDS

Alluding to the weasel's supposed ability to suck an egg out of its shell without seeming to break the shell.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF WEASEL WORDS

weasel words

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF WEASEL WORDS

Weasel words is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES WEASEL WORDS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Weasel word

A weasel word is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that a specific and/or meaningful statement has been made, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated, enabling the specific meaning to be denied if the statement is challenged. A more formal term is equivocation. The use of weasel words to avoid making an outright assertion is a synonym to tergiversate. Weasel words can imply meaning far beyond the claim actually being made. Some weasel words may also have the effect of softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement through some form of understatement, for example using detensifiers such as "somewhat" or "in most respects". Weasel words are likely to be used in advertising and in political statements, where encouraging the audience to develop a misleading impression of what was said can lead to advantages, at least in the short term.

Definition of weasel words in the English dictionary

The definition of weasel words in the dictionary is intentionally evasive or misleading speech; equivocation.

TRANSLATION OF WEASEL WORDS

Find out the translation of weasel words to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of weasel words from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «weasel words» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 黄鼠狼的话
• Translator English - Spanish: palabras de la comadreja
• English: weasel words
• Translator English - Hindi: नेवला शब्द
• Translator English - Arabic: كلمات ماكرة
• Translator English - Russian: ласка слова
• Translator English - Portuguese: palavras de doninhas
• Translator English - Bengali: ওসেল শব্দ
• Translator English - French: mots ambigus
• Translator English - Malay: Perkataan weasel
• Translator English - German: Weaselwörter
• Translator English - Japanese: 逃げ口上
• Translator English - Korean: 족제비 단어
• Translator English - Javanese: Tembung weasel
• Translator English - Vietnamese: từ chồn
• Translator English - Tamil: வணக்கம் வார்த்தைகள்
• Translator English - Marathi: वेश्यल शब्द
• Translator English - Turkish: Gelincik kelimeler
• Translator English - Italian: parole ambigue
• Translator English - Polish: weasel słowa
• Translator English - Ukrainian: ласка слова
• Translator English - Romanian: weasel cuvinte
• Translator English - Greek: λέξεις νυφίτσα
• Translator English - Afrikaans: mol woorde
• Translator English - Swedish: krumbukter
• Translator English - Norwegian: beltebil ord

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «WEASEL WORDS»

Discover the use of weasel words in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to weasel words and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Death Sentences: How Cliches, Weasel Words and ...

Citing the disturbing overuse of buzzwords and clichs in the business world and political arena, an analysis of the consequences of ineffective terminology invites readers to resist rhetoric and desensitizing verbiage while returning to ...

Don Watson, 2006

Weasel Words: The Dictionary of American Doublespeak

With more than 1,200 terms, this A to Z dictionary is a hard-hitting, politically savvy translation of all those evasions, put-on-holds, distortions, circumventions, obfuscations, and misleading terms used by government, businesses, and the ...

Paul Wasserman, Don Hausrath, 2005

Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words, Contemporary Cliches, ...

This book is a heavy weapon against politicians, managers and all those whose words kill brain cells and sink hearts.

Don Watson, 2005

Watson's Dictionary Of Weasel Words

This book is a heavy weapon against politicians, managers and all those whose words kill brain cells and sink hearts.

Don Watson, 2011

The Story of English in 100 Words

Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, from the ancient to the cutting-edge, and spanning from words so indispensible we hardly notice them ('and') to the more fanciful ('fopdoodle') and the ultra-modern ( ...

David Crystal, 2011

unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation

S'l'()Rl-1 IS FAMILIAR with the principle of “weasel words." Weasel words suck the meaning out of a phrase or sentence, the way that weasels supposedly suck the contents out of an egg, leaving only a hollow shell. In “Up to 50 percent off," ...

Brooks Jackson, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, 2007

Theodore Roosevelt and His Time Shown in His Own Letters

One of our defects as a nation is a tendency to use what have been called ' weasel words. ' When a weasel sucks eggs the meat is sucked out of the egg. If you use a 'weasel word' after another there is nothing left of the other. Now, you can ...

Joseph Bucklin Bishop, 1920

Chambers Weasel Words: 200 Words You Shouldn't Trust

" Using contemporary examples, this book sets out those words we find confusing, explains what each word actually means and examines why these words are used the way they are.

R. G. Virtue, 2009

The Language of Success: Business Writing That Informs, ...

Specifically, it involves using: • Weasel words • Passive voice • Subjunctive mood Weasel Words There are certain “weasel words” that modify the meaning of what you're saying to the point that you appear to be saying one thing when you're ...

Tom SANT, 2008

The Public

RELATED THINGS CONTRIBUTIONS AND REPRINT ORIGIN OF "WEASEL WORDS." Robert C. Moore, in Chicago Herald, Sept. 6. The great literary statesman has added a word to our language — or claims he has. The great explorer who ...

Louis Freeland Post, Alice Thatcher Post, Stoughton Cooley, 1916

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «WEASEL WORDS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term weasel words is used in the context of the following news items.

Weasel words from feds on Shoal Lake

This ferry to Shoal Lake 40 First Nation is no longer in use after it failed to pass inspection. The community is cut off from the mainland. Photo Store. The living ... «Winnipeg Free Press, Jun 15»

Weasel words will never help save the planet

I'm saddened to see “aspirational goals” joining the ranks of weasel words. The once-inspiring phrase encouraged individuals to define their greater purpose ... «London Free Press, Jun 15»

WEASEL WORD WATCH: Debate

Welcome to Weasel Word Watch. This column will run on an ad hoc basis and is designed to identify Weasel Words — empty phrases, jargon, clichés and cant ... «BDlive, May 15»

Weasel words from a weasel

Something there is that doesn't love a weasel, at least out here in flyover land. Here is Stephanopoulos's statement as read out on GMA (via the New York Daily ... «Power Line, May 15»

Beware of weasel words

While the use of weasel words is a common advertising practice, you need to be very careful that these words don't come back and bite you. What are weasel ... «Comox Valley Record, Apr 15»

Pop go the weasel words

“Consumers … deserve the respect of not having to put up with weasel words such as 'Made of Australian and imported ingredients' - the purpose of that is just ... «The Land Newspaper, Mar 15»

Our pols fluent in Weasel words

Today's politicians are bilingual. They speak fluent Weasel. No offense. To weasels. Premier Kathleen Wynne showed off her gift of gab, Weasel-wise, ... «Toronto Sun, Feb 15»

Too much at stake for weasel words on submarines

We believe in the free flow of information. We use a Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivatives license, so you can republish our articles for free, online or in ... «The Conversation AU, Feb 15»

NSW's CSG policy full of 'weasel words'

NSW Premier Mike Baird's revamped coal seam gas policy is full of "weasel words", say environmental ... "It's considered weasel words by the community.". «The Australian, Nov 14»

Cameron accused of 'weasel words' over position on leaving EU

David Cameron was accused of “weasel words” when he refused to say if he ... said there are problems in terms of free movement that need to be dealt with”. «The Guardian, Nov 14»