0

What's an appropriate word or a phrase to describe a person or the behavior of the person, who doesn't want to say things that can be advantageous to you, by hiding the truth.

For example if cops inquire someone whether I have the drug habit, and the person chooses to say " I don't know I am not with him all the time" even though they truthfully know I don't do drugs.

Or someone who says his company doesn't pay bonuses to make it like look it's the general truth, even though bonuses are paid every year for 30 years except for the current year.

Improve this question
6
  • Sounds passive-aggressive to withhold information or help.
    – Yosef Baskin
    May 12 at 19:47
  • This doesn't exclusively apply to adventageous information, but "lying by omission" might fit. It is used to describe a situation in which someone doesn't directly lie, but they leave out important information and misrepresent the truth. So, in your second example, someone would be lying by omission if they said they don't get a bonus but leave out the fact that they received bonuses other years.
    – garnerstan
    May 12 at 19:48
  • sandbagger. But that can refer to someone withholding info for any reason.
    – Drew
    May 12 at 23:58
  • Are you looking for a verb, noun, adjective? Word requests usually need a sample sentence demonstrating how the target language is used.
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    May 13 at 18:19
  • If the new contributor has not come back by tomorrow, I will VTC as 'abandoned'
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    May 13 at 20:52

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

That person is a prevaricator. He doesn't speak the precise truth.

See: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/prevaricator

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    This would benefit from including the definition itself in your answer. No need to withold that information.
    – livresque
    May 12 at 21:36
  • Thanks. I found it’s close synonym “equivocate” while researching this
    – techy
    May 12 at 22:19
  • It means liar and that's the right word, if you don't wanna use asshole.
    – John Lawler
    May 12 at 22:37

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.