palter

verb

ˈpȯl-tər How to pronounce palter (audio)
Definition of palternext
as in to deal
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase unwilling to palter over the price of the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Example 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
  1. deal
  2. negotiate
  3. bargain
  4. haggle
Verb
  • Nearly all Democrats, 97 percent, and a large majority of independents, 77 percent, think that tariffs will deal a short-term blow to the nation’s economy.
    — Filip Timotija, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Yankees were also dealt several blows to the bullpen because of injuries.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of deal
Verb
  • His special envoy to Ukraine set a goal of negotiating an agreement even quicker during the first 100 days of Trump's term.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member states.
    — Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • In New York State, public employees have the right to organize and bargain collectively for wages and benefits and working conditions.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The union said it, along with the Alliance of Health Care Unions, will begin bargaining for a separate group of 60,000 workers in May.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of bargain
Verb
  • While there aren’t any hard and fast rules to haggling in the city, there are guidelines for doing it respectfully.
    — Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025
  • More than a month after Washington and Kyiv first haggled over a deal to grant the United States a major stake in Ukraine’s mineral, oil and gas development projects, the two sides are back to square one in the negotiations.
    — Constant Méheut, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of haggle

Browse Nearby Words

palsy-walsy
palter
paltered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Palter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palter. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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