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Available in 13 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-13" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">13 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A6selord" title="Væselord – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Væselord" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieselwort" title="Wieselwort – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Wieselwort" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B8_%D8%B7%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A2%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2" title="الفاظ طفره‌آمیز – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="الفاظ طفره‌آمیز" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot_ambigu" title="Mot ambigu – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Mot ambigu" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D" title="חמקמילים – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="חמקמילים" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holle_frase" title="Holle frase – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Holle frase" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_word" title="Weasel word – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Weasel word" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_word" title="Weasel word – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Weasel word" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuv%C3%A2nt_nev%C4%83stuic%C4%83" title="Cuvânt nevăstuică – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Cuvânt nevăstuică" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5" title="Неопределённое выражение – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Неопределённое выражение" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vessleord" title="Vessleord – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Vessleord" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%82" title="Анонімний авторитет – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Анонімний авторитет" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a 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class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Words or phrases using vague claims to appear meaningful</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable selfref">For the specific meaning in Wikipedia, see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Weasel_word" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Weasel word">Wikipedia:Weasel word</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Weasel_words.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Weasel_words.svg/220px-Weasel_words.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Weasel_words.svg/330px-Weasel_words.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Weasel_words.svg/440px-Weasel_words.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="500" /></a><figcaption>An illustration of a <a href="/wiki/Weasel" title="Weasel">weasel</a> using "weasel words". In this case, "some people" are a vague and undefined authority.</figcaption></figure> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Rhetoric" title="Rhetoric">rhetoric</a>, a <b>weasel word</b>, or <b>anonymous authority</b>, is a word or phrase aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague, ambiguous, or irrelevant claim has been communicated. The terms may be considered <a href="/wiki/Slang" title="Slang">informal</a>. Examples include the phrases "some people say", "it is thought", and "researchers believe". Using weasel words may allow one to later deny any specific meaning if the statement is challenged, because the statement was never specific in the first place. Weasel words can be a form of <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tergiversate" class="extiw" title="wikt:tergiversate">tergiversation</a> and may be used in <a href="/wiki/Advertising" title="Advertising">advertising</a>, <a href="/wiki/Popular_science" title="Popular science">popular science</a>, <a href="/wiki/Opinion_piece" title="Opinion piece">opinion pieces</a> and <a href="/wiki/Political_statement" title="Political statement">political statements</a> to mislead or disguise a <a href="/wiki/Bias" title="Bias">biased</a> view or unsubstantiated claim. </p><p>Weasel words can weaken or understate a controversial claim. An example of this is using terms like "somewhat" or "in most respects," which make a sentence more ambiguous than it would be without them.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origin">Origin</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Origin"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The expression <i>weasel word</i> may have derived from the egg-eating habits of <a href="/wiki/Weasel" title="Weasel">weasels</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An article published by the <i><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_News" class="mw-redirect" title="Buffalo News">Buffalo News</a></i> attributes the origin of the term to <a href="/wiki/William_Shakespeare" title="William Shakespeare">William Shakespeare</a>'s plays <i><a href="/wiki/Henry_V_(play)" title="Henry V (play)">Henry V</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/As_You_Like_It" title="As You Like It">As You Like It</a></i>, in which the author includes <a href="/wiki/Simile" title="Simile">similes</a> of weasels sucking eggs.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The article said that this simile was flawed because weasels do not have the jaw musculature suitable for sucking eggs.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Ovid" title="Ovid">Ovid</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/Metamorphoses" title="Metamorphoses">Metamorphoses</a></i> provides an earlier source for the same etymology. Ovid describes how <a href="/wiki/Juno_(mythology)" title="Juno (mythology)">Juno</a> orders the goddess of childbirth, <a href="/wiki/Lucina_(goddess)" class="mw-redirect" title="Lucina (goddess)">Lucina</a>, to prevent <a href="/wiki/Alcmene" title="Alcmene">Alcmene</a> from giving birth to <a href="/wiki/Hercules" title="Hercules">Hercules</a>. Alcmene's servant <a href="/wiki/Galanthis" title="Galanthis">Galanthis</a>, realizing that Lucina is outside the room using magic to prevent the birth, emerges to announce that the birth has been a success. Lucina, in her amazement, drops the spells of binding and Hercules is born. Galanthis then mocks Lucina, who responds by transforming her into a weasel. Ovid writes (in A.S. Kline's translation) "And because her lying mouth helped in childbirth, she [as a weasel] gives birth through her mouth."<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ancient Greeks believed that weasels conceived through their ears and gave birth through their mouths.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Definitions of the word 'weasel' that imply deception and irresponsibility include: the noun form, referring to a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person; the verb form, meaning to <a href="/wiki/Psychological_manipulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Psychological manipulation">manipulate</a> shiftily;<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the phrase "to <i>weasel out</i>," meaning "to squeeze one's way out of something" or "to evade responsibility."<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt" title="Theodore Roosevelt">Theodore Roosevelt</a> attributed the term to his friend William Sewall's older brother, Dave, claiming that he had used the term in a private conversation in 1879.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The expression first appeared in print in Stewart Chaplin's short story "Stained Glass Political Platform" (published in 1900 in <i><a href="/wiki/The_Century_Magazine" title="The Century Magazine">The Century Magazine</a></i>),<sup id="cite_ref-dic_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dic-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in which weasel words were described as "words that suck the life out of the words next to them, just as a weasel sucks the egg and leaves the shell." Roosevelt apparently later put the term into public use after using it in a speech in St. Louis May 31, 1916. According to Mario Pei, Roosevelt said, "When a weasel sucks an egg, the meat is sucked out of the egg; and if you use a weasel word after another, there is nothing left of the other."<sup id="cite_ref-pei_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pei-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Forms">Forms</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Forms"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A 2009 study of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> found that most weasel words in it could be divided into three main categories:<sup id="cite_ref-Ganter_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ganter-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ol><li>Numerically vague expressions (for example, "some people", "experts", "many", "evidence suggests")</li> <li>Use of the <a href="/wiki/Passive_voice" title="Passive voice">passive voice</a> to avoid specifying an authority (for example, "it is said")</li> <li>Adverbs that weaken (for example, "often", "probably")</li></ol> <p>Other forms of weasel words may include these:<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Formal_fallacy" title="Formal fallacy">Illogical or irrelevant statements</a></li> <li>Use of vague or ambiguous <a href="/wiki/Euphemism" title="Euphemism">euphemisms</a><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Use of grammatical devices such as <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_modifier" title="Grammatical modifier">qualifiers</a>, negation and the <a href="/wiki/Subjunctive_mood" title="Subjunctive mood">subjunctive mood</a></li> <li>In most languages with one, use of the first person plural pronouns e.g. we, us, our, and ours</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glittering_generality" title="Glittering generality">Glittering or vague generalizations</a></li></ul> <p><i>Generalizing</i> by means of <a href="/wiki/Quantifier_(linguistics)" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantifier (linguistics)">quantifiers</a>, such as <i>many</i>, when quantifiable measures could be provided, obfuscates the point being made, and if done deliberately is an example of "weaseling." </p><p><i>Illogical or irrelevant statements</i> are often used in advertising, where the statement describes a beneficial feature of a product or service being advertised. An example is the endorsement of products by celebrities, regardless of whether they have any expertise relating to the product. In non-sequitur fashion, it does not follow that the endorsement provides any guarantee of quality or suitability. </p><p><i>False authority</i> is defined as the use of the passive voice without specifying an actor or agent. For example, saying "it has been decided" without stating by whom, and citation of unidentified "authorities" or "experts," provide further scope for weaseling. It can be used in combination with the reverse approach of discrediting a contrary viewpoint by glossing it as "claimed" or "alleged." This embraces what is termed a "semantic <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cop-out" class="extiw" title="wikt:cop-out">cop-out</a>," represented by the term <i>allegedly</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-ac_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ac-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This implies an absence of ownership of opinion, which casts a limited doubt on the opinion being articulated. The construction "<a href="/wiki/Mistakes_were_made" title="Mistakes were made">mistakes were made</a>" enables the speaker to acknowledge error without identifying those responsible. </p><p>However, the passive voice is legitimately used when the identity of the actor or agent is irrelevant. For example, in the sentence "one hundred votes are required to pass the bill," there is no ambiguity, and the actors including the members of the voting community cannot practicably be named even if it were useful to do so.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The scientific journal article is another example of the legitimate use of the passive voice. For an experimental result to be useful, anyone who runs the experiment should get the same result. That is, the identity of the experimenter should be of low importance. Use of the passive voice focuses attention upon the actions, and not upon the actor—the author of the article. To achieve conciseness and clarity, however, most scientific journals encourage authors to use the active voice where appropriate, identifying themselves as "we" or even "I."<sup id="cite_ref-BioMedicalEditor_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BioMedicalEditor-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <i><a href="/wiki/Middle_voice" class="mw-redirect" title="Middle voice">middle voice</a></i> can be used to create a misleading impression. For example: </p> <ul><li>"It stands to reason that most people will be better off after the changes."</li> <li>"There are great fears that most people will be worse off after the changes."</li> <li>"Experience insists that most people will not be better off after the changes."</li></ul> <p>The first of these also demonstrates false authority, in that anyone who disagrees incurs the suspicion of being unreasonable merely by dissenting. Another example from international politics is use of the phrase "the international community" to imply a false unanimity. </p><p><i><a href="/wiki/Euphemism" title="Euphemism">Euphemism</a></i> may be used to soften and potentially mislead the audience. For example, the dismissal of employees may be referred to as "rightsizing," "headcount reduction," and "downsizing."<sup id="cite_ref-downsize_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-downsize-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Jargon" title="Jargon">Jargon</a> of this kind is used to describe things <a href="/wiki/Euphemism" title="Euphemism">euphemistically</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-BusinessBuzzwords_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BusinessBuzzwords-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>Restricting information</i> available to the audience is a technique sometimes used in <a href="/wiki/Advertising" title="Advertising">advertisements</a>. For example, stating that a product "... is now 20% cheaper!" raises the question, "Cheaper than what?" It might be said that "Four out of five people prefer ..." something, but this raises the questions of the size and selection of the sample, and the size of the majority. "Four out of five" could actually mean that there had been 8% for, 2% against, and 90% indifferent. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 18em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ambivalence" title="Ambivalence">Ambivalence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Concept_creep" title="Concept creep">Concept creep</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Corporate_jargon" title="Corporate jargon">Corporate jargon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Essentially_contested_concept" title="Essentially contested concept">Essentially contested concept</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Filler_(linguistics)" title="Filler (linguistics)">Filler (linguistics)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fnord" title="Fnord">Fnord</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/If-by-whiskey" class="mw-redirect" title="If-by-whiskey">If-by-whiskey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Linguistic_relativity" title="Linguistic relativity">Linguistic relativity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Newspeak" title="Newspeak">Newspeak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-apology_apology" title="Non-apology apology">Non-apology apology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-denial_denial" title="Non-denial denial">Non-denial denial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_correctness" title="Political correctness">Political correctness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spin_(propaganda)" title="Spin (propaganda)">Spin (propaganda)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wooden_language" title="Wooden language">Wooden language</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hedge_(linguistics)" title="Hedge (linguistics)">Hedge (linguistics)</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Jason, Gary (1988) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ojs.uwindsor.ca/ojs/leddy/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2649/2090">"Hedging as a Fallacy of Language"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193931/http://ojs.uwindsor.ca/ojs/leddy/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2649/2090">Archived</a> 23 June 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Informal Logic</i> X.3, Fall 1988</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Theodore Roosevelt Association, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/TR%20Web%20Book/TR_CD_to_HTML682.html">Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia</a><span style="font-size:0.95em; font-size:95%; color: var( --color-subtle, #555 )">(subscription required)</span> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120414220921/http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/TR%20Web%20Book/TR_CD_to_HTML682.html">Archived</a> 14 April 2012 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">E. Cobham Brewer, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bartleby.com/81/17333.html"><i>Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120210030708/http://www.bartleby.com/81/17333.html">Archived</a> 10 February 2012 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFRising1999" class="citation news cs1">Rising, Gerry (15 March 1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw99/weasels.html">"Weasels"</a>. <i>Buffalo News</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130731005013/http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw99/weasels.html">Archived</a> from the original on 31 July 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 December</span> 2013</span>, <i>Buffalo.edu</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Buffalo+News&rft.atitle=Weasels&rft.date=1999-03-15&rft.aulast=Rising&rft.aufirst=Gerry&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acsu.buffalo.edu%2F~insrisg%2Fnature%2Fnw99%2Fweasels.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_news" title="Template:Cite news">cite news</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: postscript (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_postscript" title="Category:CS1 maint: postscript">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ovid, Metamorphoses (tr. Anthony S. Kline), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ovid.lib.virginia.edu/trans/Metamorph9.htm#483366544">Book IX, 273–323</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141010063210/http://ovid.lib.virginia.edu/trans/Metamorph9.htm#483366544">Archived</a> 10 October 2014 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFManioti" class="citation journal cs1">Manioti, Nikoletta. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2014/2014.03.16/">"Review of: Women and Weasels: Mythologies of Birth in Ancient Greece and Rome. Translated by Emlyn Eisenach; first published 1998"</a>. <i>Bryn Mawr Classical Review</i>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1055-7660">1055-7660</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Bryn+Mawr+Classical+Review&rft.atitle=Review+of%3A+Women+and+Weasels%3A+Mythologies+of+Birth+in+Ancient+Greece+and+Rome.+Translated+by+Emlyn+Eisenach%3B+first+published+1998&rft.issn=1055-7660&rft.aulast=Manioti&rft.aufirst=Nikoletta&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbmcr.brynmawr.edu%2F2014%2F2014.03.16%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weasel">"weasel"</a>. <i>Merriam-Webster</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120112111602/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weasel">Archived</a> from the original on 12 January 2012.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Merriam-Webster&rft.atitle=weasel&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.merriam-webster.com%2Fdictionary%2Fweasel&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/weasel+out">"weasel out"</a>. The Free Dictionary. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140415113231/http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/weasel+out">Archived</a> from the original on 15 April 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 April</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=weasel+out&rft.pub=The+Free+Dictionary&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fidioms.thefreedictionary.com%2Fweasel%2Bout&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i><a href="/wiki/New_York_Times" class="mw-redirect" title="New York Times">New York Times</a></i>, 2 September 1916, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/09/02/104689643.pdf">"Origin of 'Weasel Words<span style="padding-right:.15em;">'</span>"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210225234135/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/09/02/104689643.pdf">Archived</a> 25 February 2021 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-dic-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-dic_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>The Macmillan Dictionary of Contemporary Phrase and Fable</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-pei-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-pei_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPei1978" class="citation book cs1">Pei, Mario (1978). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/weaselwordsartof0000peim_v4w7"><i>Weasel Words: The Art of Saying What You Don't Mean</i></a> (1st ed.). New York: Harper & Row. p. 1. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780060133429" title="Special:BookSources/9780060133429"><bdi>9780060133429</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Simplicable. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220709233144/https://simplicable.com/new/weasel-words">Archived</a> from the original on 9 July 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Simplicable.com&rft.atitle=7+Types+of+Weasel+Words&rft.aulast=Spacey&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fsimplicable.com%2Fnew%2Fweasel-words&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCrilly" class="citation web cs1">Crilly, Donal. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.london.edu/think/weasel-words">"Weasel words"</a>. <i>London Business School</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221129001902/https://www.london.edu/think/weasel-words">Archived</a> from the original on 29 November 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=London+Business+School&rft.atitle=Weasel+words&rft.aulast=Crilly&rft.aufirst=Donal&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.london.edu%2Fthink%2Fweasel-words&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLong2011" class="citation news cs1">Long, Rob (11 April 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/in-war-or-business-weasel-words-come-back-to-bite-you-1.422032">"In war or business, weasel words come back to bite you"</a>. The National. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205903/https://www.thenationalnews.com/in-war-or-business-weasel-words-come-back-to-bite-you-1.422032">Archived</a> from the original on 30 November 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=In+war+or+business%2C+weasel+words+come+back+to+bite+you&rft.date=2011-04-11&rft.aulast=Long&rft.aufirst=Rob&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fin-war-or-business-weasel-words-come-back-to-bite-you-1.422032&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ac-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGarber2003" class="citation book cs1">Garber, Marjorie B. (7 September 2003). <i>Academic Instincts</i>. <a href="/wiki/Princeton_University_Press" title="Princeton University Press">Princeton University Press</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-11571-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-691-11571-9"><bdi>978-0-691-11571-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Academic+Instincts&rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&rft.date=2003-09-07&rft.isbn=978-0-691-11571-9&rft.aulast=Garber&rft.aufirst=Marjorie+B.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span> p. 140 "it is alleged"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/passive-voice/">"Passive Voice"</a>. <i>The Writing Center</i>. <a href="/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Chapel_Hill" title="University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131225221237/http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/passive-voice/">Archived</a> from the original on 25 December 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 December</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Writing+Center&rft.atitle=Passive+Voice&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwritingcenter.unc.edu%2Fhandouts%2Fpassive-voice%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://english.acadiau.ca/tl_files/sites/english/resources/8PassiveVoice.pdf">"The Passive Voice"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>English and Theatre – Grammar Pages</i>. <a href="/wiki/Acadia_University" title="Acadia University">Acadia University</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131225135555/http://english.acadiau.ca/tl_files/sites/english/resources/8PassiveVoice.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 25 December 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 June</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Clear+Science+Writing%3A+Active+Voice+or+Passive+Voice%3F&rft.date=2013-07-05&rft.au=Every%2C+Barbara&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biomedicaleditor.com%2Factive-voice.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-downsize-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-downsize_20-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123345/http://www.iopsych.org/downsize.htm">"Has Downsizing Gone too Far?"</a>. <i>University of North Florida</i>. Jacksonville, Florida, US. December 1995. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.iopsych.org/downsize.htm">the original</a> on 28 September 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 October</span> 2007</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=University+of+North+Florida&rft.atitle=Has+Downsizing+Gone+too+Far%3F&rft.date=1995-12&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iopsych.org%2Fdownsize.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-BusinessBuzzwords-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BusinessBuzzwords_21-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPop,_Anamaria-Mirabela2011" class="citation web cs1">Pop, Anamaria-Mirabela (July 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227462739">"Business Buzzwords: Rightsizing, Downsizing, Re-Engineering, De-Layering"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 March</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Business+Buzzwords%3A+Rightsizing%2C+Downsizing%2C+Re-Engineering%2C+De-Layering&rft.date=2011-07&rft.au=Pop%2C+Anamaria-Mirabela&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F227462739&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWeasel+word" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>In <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nicap.org/rufo/rufo-03.htm">Report on Unidentified Flying Objects</a></i> (1956), US Air Force Captain <a href="/wiki/Edward_J._Ruppelt" title="Edward J. Ruppelt">Edward J. Ruppelt</a> described astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynek's report on the <a href="/wiki/Mantell_Incident" class="mw-redirect" title="Mantell Incident">death of pilot Thomas Mantell in pursuit of a UFO</a> as "a masterpiece in the art of 'weasel wording<span style="padding-right:.15em;">'</span>".</li></ul> <ul><li>Carl Wrighter discussed weasel words in his best-selling book <i>I Can Sell You Anything</i> (1972).</li></ul> <ul><li>Australian author <a href="/wiki/Don_Watson" title="Don Watson">Don Watson</a> devoted two volumes (<i>Death Sentence</i> and <i>Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words</i>) to documenting the increasing use of weasel words in government and corporate language. He maintains a website encouraging people to identify and nominate examples of weasel words.</li></ul> <ul><li>Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, talks much about 'weasels' as being conniving businesspeople in one of his books, named accordingly: <i><a href="/wiki/Dilbert_and_the_Way_of_the_Weasel" class="mw-redirect" title="Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel">Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel</a></i> (2002).</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mario_Pei" title="Mario Pei">Pei, Mario</a> (1978) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/weaselwordsartof0000peim_v4w7">Weasel Words: The Art of Saying What You Don't Mean</a>. New York: Harper & Row. Classic work by the well-known Columbia University linguist.</li> <li>Jason, Gary (1988) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ojs.uwindsor.ca/ojs/leddy/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2649/2090">"Hedging as a Fallacy of Language"</a>, <i>Informal Logic</i> X.3, Fall 1988</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.weaselwords.com.au/">Weasel Words</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231017175820/http://www.weaselwords.com.au/">Archived</a> 17 October 2023 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> by Australian author <a href="/wiki/Don_Watson" title="Don Watson">Don Watson</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Media_manipulation" title="Template:Media manipulation"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Media_manipulation" title="Template talk:Media manipulation"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Media_manipulation" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Media manipulation"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Media_manipulation" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Media_manipulation" title="Media manipulation">Media manipulation</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Context</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Media_bias" title="Media bias">Bias</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crowd_psychology" title="Crowd psychology">Crowd psychology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deception" title="Deception">Deception</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dumbing_down" title="Dumbing down">Dumbing down</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_balance" title="False balance">False balance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Half-truth" title="Half-truth">Half-truths</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mass_media" title="Mass media">Media</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Obfuscation" title="Obfuscation">Obfuscation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orwellian" title="Orwellian">Orwellian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Persuasion" title="Persuasion">Persuasion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manipulation_(psychology)" title="Manipulation (psychology)">Manipulation (psychology)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Activism" title="Activism">Activism</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advocacy" title="Advocacy">Advocacy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advocacy_group" title="Advocacy group">group</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alternative_media" title="Alternative media">Alternative media</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Boycott" title="Boycott">Boycott</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Call-out_culture" class="mw-redirect" title="Call-out culture">Call-out culture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cancel_culture" title="Cancel culture">Cancel culture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Civil_disobedience" title="Civil disobedience">Civil disobedience</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Culture_jamming" title="Culture jamming">Culture jamming</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_demonstration" title="Political demonstration">Demonstrations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deplatforming" title="Deplatforming">Deplatforming</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grassroots" title="Grassroots">Grassroots</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guerrilla_communication" title="Guerrilla communication">Guerrilla communication</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hacktivism" title="Hacktivism">Hacktivism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internet_activism" title="Internet activism">Internet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_activism" title="Media activism">Media</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Occupation_(protest)" title="Occupation (protest)">Occupations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Petition" title="Petition">Petitions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protest" title="Protest">Protests</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Youth_activism" title="Youth activism">Youth</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Advertising" title="Advertising">Advertising</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Billboard" title="Billboard">Billboards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_advertising" title="False advertising">False</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infomercial" title="Infomercial">Infomercials</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mobile_marketing" title="Mobile marketing">Mobiles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Promotional_model" title="Promotional model">Modeling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radio_advertisement" title="Radio advertisement">Radio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sex_in_advertising" title="Sex in advertising">Sex</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advertising_slogan" title="Advertising slogan">Slogans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Testimonial" title="Testimonial">Testimonials</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Television_advertisement" title="Television advertisement">TV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_advertising" title="Criticism of advertising">Criticism of advertising</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Annoyance_factor" title="Annoyance factor">Annoyance factor</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div class="hlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Censorship" title="Censorship">Censorship</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Media_regulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Media regulation">Media regulation</a></li></ul></div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Book_censorship" title="Book censorship">Books</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Broadcast_law" title="Broadcast law">Broadcast law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Burning_of_books_and_burying_of_scholars" title="Burning of books and burying of scholars">Burying of scholars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catch_and_kill" title="Catch and kill">Catch and kill</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Corporate_censorship" title="Corporate censorship">Corporate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cover-up" title="Cover-up">Cover-ups</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Euphemism" title="Euphemism">Euphemism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Film_censorship" title="Film censorship">Films</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Historical_negationism" title="Historical negationism">Historical negationism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internet_censorship" title="Internet censorship">Internet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_censorship" title="Political censorship">Political</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Religious_censorship" title="Religious censorship">Religious</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-censorship" title="Self-censorship">Self</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Hoax" title="Hoax">Hoaxing</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alternative_facts" title="Alternative facts">Alternative facts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day" title="April Fools' Day">April Fools'</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deepfake" title="Deepfake">Deepfake</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fake_news" title="Fake news">Fake news</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fake_news_website" title="Fake news website">websites</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fakelore" class="mw-redirect" title="Fakelore">Fakelore</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_document" title="False document">False document</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fictitious_entry" title="Fictitious entry">Fictitious entries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Firehose_of_falsehood" title="Firehose of falsehood">Firehose of falsehood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Forgery" title="Forgery">Forgery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gaslighting" title="Gaslighting">Gaslighting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_hoaxes" title="List of hoaxes">List</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_forgery" title="Literary forgery">Literary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lying_press" title="Lying press">Lying press</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Photograph_manipulation" title="Photograph manipulation">Photograph manipulation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Racial_hoax" title="Racial hoax">Racial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Urban_legends_and_myths" class="mw-redirect" title="Urban legends and myths">Urban legend</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Virus_hoax" title="Virus hoax">Virus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Video_manipulation" title="Video manipulation">Video manipulation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Marketing" title="Marketing">Marketing</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brand" title="Brand">Branding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loyalty_marketing" title="Loyalty marketing">Loyalty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Product_marketing" title="Product marketing">Product</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Product_placement" title="Product placement">Product placement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Publicity" title="Publicity">Publicity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Market_research" title="Market research">Research</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Word-of-mouth_marketing" title="Word-of-mouth marketing">Word of mouth</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/News_media" title="News media">News media</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Agenda-setting_theory" title="Agenda-setting theory">Agenda-setting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/News_broadcasting" title="News broadcasting">Broadcasting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_circus" title="Media circus">Circus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/24-hour_news_cycle" title="24-hour news cycle">Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Emotive_conjugation" title="Emotive conjugation">Emotive conjugation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_balance" title="False balance">False balance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infotainment" title="Infotainment">Infotainment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Managing_the_news" title="Managing the news">Managing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narcotizing_dysfunction" title="Narcotizing dysfunction">Narcotizing dysfunction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Newspeak" title="Newspeak">Newspeak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_event" title="Media event">Pseudo-event</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_scrum" title="Media scrum">Scrum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sensationalism" title="Sensationalism">Sensationalism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tabloid_journalism" title="Tabloid journalism">Tabloid journalism</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Political_campaign" title="Political campaign">Political campaigning</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Campaign_advertising" title="Campaign advertising">Advertising</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Astroturfing" title="Astroturfing">Astroturfing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Attack_ad" title="Attack ad">Attack ad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canvassing" title="Canvassing">Canvassing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Character_assassination" title="Character assassination">Character assassination</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dog_whistle_(politics)" title="Dog whistle (politics)">Dog whistle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Election_promise" title="Election promise">Election promises</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lawn_sign" title="Lawn sign">Lawn signs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Party_platform" title="Party platform">Party platforms (or manifestos)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Name_recognition" title="Name recognition">Name recognition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Negative_campaigning" title="Negative campaigning">Negative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Push_poll" title="Push poll">Push polling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smear_campaign" title="Smear campaign">Smear campaign</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wedge_issue" title="Wedge issue">Wedge issue</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Propaganda" title="Propaganda">Propaganda</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bandwagon_effect" title="Bandwagon effect">Bandwagon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_lie" title="Big lie">Big lie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crowd_manipulation" title="Crowd manipulation">Crowd manipulation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disinformation" title="Disinformation">Disinformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fearmongering" title="Fearmongering">Fearmongering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Framing_(social_sciences)" title="Framing (social sciences)">Framing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indoctrination" title="Indoctrination">Indoctrination</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loaded_language" title="Loaded language">Loaded language</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_myth" title="National myth">National mythology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rally_%27round_the_flag_effect" title="Rally 'round the flag effect">Rally 'round the flag effect</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propaganda_techniques" title="Propaganda techniques">Techniques</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Psychological_warfare" title="Psychological warfare">Psychological warfare</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Airborne_leaflet_propaganda" title="Airborne leaflet propaganda">Airborne leaflets</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_flag" title="False flag">False flag</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fifth_column" title="Fifth column">Fifth column</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_warfare" title="Information warfare">Information (IT)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lawfare" title="Lawfare">Lawfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_warfare" title="Political warfare">Political</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Public_diplomacy" title="Public diplomacy">Public diplomacy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sedition" title="Sedition">Sedition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subversion" title="Subversion">Subversion</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Public_relations" title="Public relations">Public relations</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cult_of_personality" title="Cult of personality">Cult of personality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Doublespeak" title="Doublespeak">Doublespeak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-apology_apology" title="Non-apology apology">Non-apology apology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reputation_management" title="Reputation management">Reputation management</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slogan" title="Slogan">Slogans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sound_bite" title="Sound bite">Sound bites</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spin_(propaganda)" title="Spin (propaganda)">Spin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfer_(propaganda)" title="Transfer (propaganda)">Transfer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Understatement" title="Understatement">Understatement</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Weasel words</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Corporate_propaganda" title="Corporate propaganda">Corporate propaganda</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sales" title="Sales">Sales</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cold_calling" title="Cold calling">Cold calling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Door-to-door" title="Door-to-door">Door-to-door</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pricing" title="Pricing">Pricing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Product_demonstration" title="Product demonstration">Product demonstrations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sales_promotion" title="Sales promotion">Promotion</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Spaving" title="Spaving">Spaving</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Promotional_merchandise" title="Promotional merchandise">Promotional merchandise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telemarketing" title="Telemarketing">Telemarketing</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Influence-for-hire" title="Influence-for-hire">Influence-for-hire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_bias" title="Media bias">Media bias</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Media_bias_in_the_United_States" title="Media bias in the United States">United States</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership" title="Concentration of media ownership">Media concentration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_democracy" title="Media democracy">Media democracy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_ecology" title="Media ecology">Media ecology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_ethics" title="Media ethics">Media ethics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_franchise" title="Media franchise">Media franchise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Influence_of_mass_media" title="Influence of mass media">Media influence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_proprietor" title="Media proprietor">Media proprietor</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Propaganda_techniques" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Propaganda" title="Template:Propaganda"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Propaganda" title="Template talk:Propaganda"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Propaganda" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Propaganda"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Propaganda_techniques" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Propaganda_techniques" title="Propaganda techniques">Propaganda techniques</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Accusation_in_a_mirror" title="Accusation in a mirror">Accusation in a mirror</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ad_hominem" title="Ad hominem">Ad hominem</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Appeal_to_fear" title="Appeal to fear">Appeal to fear</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Appeal_to_emotion" title="Appeal to emotion">Appeal to emotion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atrocity_propaganda" title="Atrocity propaganda">Atrocity propaganda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bandwagon_effect" title="Bandwagon effect">Bandwagon effect</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sex_in_advertising" title="Sex in advertising">Beautiful people</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_lie" title="Big lie">Big lie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Black_propaganda" title="Black propaganda">Black propaganda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blood_libel" title="Blood libel">Blood libel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buzzword" title="Buzzword">Buzzword</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cartographic_propaganda" title="Cartographic propaganda">Cartographic propaganda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Censorship" title="Censorship">Censorship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cherry_picking" title="Cherry picking">Cherry picking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cult_of_personality" title="Cult of personality">Cult of personality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Demonizing_the_enemy" title="Demonizing the enemy">Demonizing the enemy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disinformation" title="Disinformation">Disinformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dog_whistle_(politics)" title="Dog whistle (politics)">Dog whistle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Doublespeak" title="Doublespeak">Doublespeak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Emotive_conjugation" title="Emotive conjugation">Emotive conjugation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exaggeration" title="Exaggeration">Exaggeration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_accusation" title="False accusation">False accusation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_balance" title="False balance">False balance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_dilemma" title="False dilemma">False dilemma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fake_news_website" title="Fake news website">Fake news</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty,_and_doubt" title="Fear, uncertainty, and doubt">Fear, uncertainty, and doubt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Firehose_of_falsehood" title="Firehose of falsehood">Firehose of falsehood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flag-waving" title="Flag-waving">Flag-waving</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Framing_(social_sciences)" title="Framing (social sciences)">Framing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gish_gallop" title="Gish gallop">Gish gallop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glittering_generality" title="Glittering generality">Glittering generality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Half-truth" title="Half-truth">Half-truth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Historical_negationism" title="Historical negationism">Historical negationism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ideograph_(rhetoric)" title="Ideograph (rhetoric)">Ideograph</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indoctrination" title="Indoctrination">Indoctrination</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lawfare" title="Lawfare">Lawfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loaded_language" title="Loaded language">Loaded language</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Newspeak" title="Newspeak">Newspeak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Managing_the_news" title="Managing the news">Managing the news</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minimisation_(psychology)" title="Minimisation (psychology)">Minimisation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monumental_propaganda" title="Monumental propaganda">Monumental propaganda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moralistic_fallacy" title="Moralistic fallacy">Moralistic fallacy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_generation_warfare" title="New generation warfare">New generation warfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Obscurantism" title="Obscurantism">Obscurantism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Analysis_paralysis" title="Analysis paralysis">Overcomplication</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oversimplification" class="mw-redirect" title="Oversimplification">Oversimplification</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plain_folks" title="Plain folks">Plain folks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Psychological_warfare" title="Psychological warfare">Psychological warfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propaganda_of_the_deed" title="Propaganda of the deed">Propaganda of the deed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Public_relations" title="Public relations">Public relations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rally_%27round_the_flag_effect" title="Rally 'round the flag effect">Rally 'round the flag effect</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scapegoating" title="Scapegoating">Scapegoating</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Senbu" title="Senbu">Senbu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shooting_and_crying" title="Shooting and crying">Shooting and crying</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slogan" title="Slogan">Slogan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spin_(propaganda)" title="Spin (propaganda)">Spin</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Weasel word</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Whataboutism" title="Whataboutism">Whataboutism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/White_propaganda" title="White propaganda">White propaganda</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&oldid=1244540718">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Weasel_word&oldid=1244540718</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Ambiguity" 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