Topic Thesaurus
Roget's Thesaurus

Tergiversation

Nouns
  • change of mind, change of intention, change of purpose
  • afterthought. tergiversation, recantation
  • palinode, palinody
  • renunciation
  • abjuration, abjurement
  • defection etc. (relinquishment) Relinquishment
  • going over etc. v.
  • apostasy
  • retraction, retractation
  • withdrawal
  • disavowal etc. (negation) Negation
  • revocation, revokement
  • reversal
  • repentance etc. Penitence
  • vacillation etc. Irresolution
  • backsliding
  • turn tippet
  • rat, apostate, renegade
  • convert, pervert
  • proselyte, deserter
  • backslider
  • blackleg, crawfish [U.S.], scab [Slang], mugwump [U.S.], recidivist. time server, time pleaser
  • timist, Vicar of Bray, trimmer, ambidexter
  • weathercock etc. (changeable) Changeableness
  • Janus.
Verbs
  • change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note
  • abjure, renounce
  • withdraw from etc. (relinquish) Relinquishment
  • waver, vacillate
  • wheel round, turn round, veer round
  • turn a pirouette
  • go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another
  • go to the rightabout
  • box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack. apostatize, change sides, go over, rat
  • recant, retract
  • revoke
  • rescind etc. (abrogate) Abrogation
  • recall
  • forswear, unsay
  • come over, come round to an opinion
  • crawfish [U.S.], crawl [U.S.]. draw in one's horns, eat one's words
  • eat the leek, swallow the leek
  • swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it
  • come back return to one's first love
  • turn over a new leaf etc. (repent) Penitence. trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds
  • wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.
Adjectives
  • changeful etc. Changeableness
  • irresolute etc. Irresolution
  • ductile, slippery as an eel, trimming, ambidextrous, timeserving
  • coquetting etc. v.. revocatory, reactionary.
Phrases
  • a change came o'er the spirit of my dream" [Byron].