What is it called when someone refuses to answer a question?

Asked by: Mr. Scot Abernathy II  |  Last update: December 19, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (34 votes)

Question dodging is a rhetorical technique involving the intentional avoidance of answering a question.

What is the word for refusing to answer questions?

If you're still looking for a verb: Prevaricate, evade, dodge.

What is the word for ignoring questions?

Evasive, and/or perhaps the person does not accept the terms of reference (i.e., the presuppositions) of the question.

What does it mean when someone hesitates to answer a question?

Some studies suggest delayed answers come across as insincere to the listener. Others find no relationship between the two, and still more have found the opposite: That a bit of hesitation increases our perceptions of sincerity.

What does it mean when someone keeps avoids answering a question?

Question dodging

This may occur when the person questioned either does not know the answer and wants to avoid embarrassment, or when the person is being interrogated or questioned in debate, and wants to avoid giving a direct response.

We Refuse To Answer!

31 related questions found

What is the psychology behind hesitation?

The moment of hesitation is the point in the decision-making process when there is an internal conflict between the desire to take a certain action and doubts about its effects. This is the time when our belief in the rightness of choice begins to be undermined by our fears, fears, or insecurities.

What is a word for unwilling to answer?

disinclined, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated.

What is it called when someone purposely ignores you?

The phrase give someone the cold shoulder can be used when someone ignores a person in an unfriendly way. You can also use the verb cold-shoulder. I said hello to him and he just gave me the cold shoulder.

What is a no answer question called?

rhetorical question. When you ask a rhetorical question, you don't really expect an answer.

What is the one question to identify a narcissist?

Analyzing their data, they found that they could reliably identify narcissists simply using the question: “To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist. ' (Note: The word 'narcissist' means egotistical, self-focused and vain.)”

What is it called when someone doesn't answer your question?

People who don't answer your question directly and instead provide their interpretation of what they think the question is about, along with an unrelated answer, are often referred to as "non sequitur" responders.

What does no response do to a narcissist?

Going no contact often negatively impacts the narcissist. Narcissists need admiration, control, and reassurance to maintain their self-esteem and inflated ego. When you cut off a narcissist, they lose their leverage over you, leading to a spiral of collapse, depression, or anger.

What is the word for avoiding answering questions?

To conclude, various terms exist to describe individuals who avoid answering questions. Phrases such as “evasive individual,” “question dodger,” and “ambiguous communicator” effectively capture this behavior.

What does prevaricate mean?

to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.

What is a problem with no answer called?

unanswerable. (ʌnænsərəbəl ) 1. adjective. If you describe a question as unanswerable, you mean that it has no possible answer or that a particular person cannot possibly answer it.

What type of behavior is ignoring?

Ignoring is the active process of taking away attention from misbehaviors. The goal of ignoring is to stop behaviors you do not like. Learn practical ways to use the ignoring technique to discourage misbehavior.

What is one word for someone who ignores you?

You will see after some time he/she will definitely come back to you. Rude is one word, and another is indifferent. Indifferent, uncaring, heedless, mindless, and as a person is “ignoring” they do qualify as “ignorant”.

Why would someone ignore you on purpose?

They want space. You might notice yourself assuming the worst when someone ignores you. However, this behavior could be a sign that someone is craving time alone or doesn't want to be pressured into discussing something they're not ready to address yet.

What is a word for refuse to answer?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. In what contexts can decline take the place of refuse?

What is the word for deliberately ignoring something?

Some common synonyms of disregard are forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

What is a word for someone not responding?

If someone can't or won't respond, we call them unresponsive.

What is the root cause of hesitation?

Finally, hesitation may relate to low self-esteem or other deep-rooted psychological issues. Individuals with low self-esteem tend to lack confidence in many different life domains. Doubting one's ability to trade, and thus, hesitating to make a trade may reflect a more pervasive, deep-seated self-doubt.

Is undue hesitation a serious?

Observation and Awareness: Being too hesitant might indicate a lack of observation and awareness, which are vital skills for any competent driver. Test Evaluation: On the driving test, undue hesitation can be marked as a serious or even dangerous fault, significantly impacting your chances of passing.

What causes a person to be hesitant?

Hesitating is based on worry, fear may be the notion that we aren't exact enough or clever enough at some level. We can feel that if we move ahead that this lack of knowledge or know-how will be uncovered. In psychology, hesitation refers to a delay or uncertainty in making a choice or taking action.