Stonewaller

A 'stonewaller' is a person who deliberately avoids making a commitment or responding to questions, often by providing vague or non-committal answers. This term is commonly used in contexts such as politics or negotiations, where a party may refuse to engage directly in dialogue or provide clear information.

Stonewaller meaning with examples

• During the heated debate, the candidate became a stonewaller, deflecting every direct question with vague statements about her vision, leaving voters frustrated and confused about her actual policies.
• In business negotiations, their CEO was a notorious stonewaller, refusing to discuss specifics about the contract terms, which only served to prolong the discussions and create mistrust among the partners.
• The stonewaller in the group meeting skillfully turned every inquiry back to the team’s performance, avoiding any accountability for the missed deadlines, much to the annoyance of the project manager.
• When pressed about the reasons for his sudden resignation, the executive became a stonewaller, answering with general remarks about 'personal growth,' leaving everyone in the office guessing about the real reasons behind it.