Pussyfooting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈpu̇-sē-ˌfu̇t/ pussy·foot

Meaning & Definition of Pussyfooting

Pussyfooting (verb)

  1. to tread or move warily or stealthily
  2. to refrain from committing oneself

Pussyfooting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to avoid giving a definite answer or position

    "politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues"

    similar: equivocating, fudging, hedging, tergiversating, waffling, weaseling, beating around the bush, hemming and hawing, straddling the fence
    related: flip-flopping, yo-yoing, dodging, ducking, eluding, eschewing, evading, shaking, shirking, shunning, sidestepping, skirting, bypassing, circumventing, caviling, quibbling, straddling

  2. to move about in a sly or secret manner

    "pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night"

    similar: lurking, mooching, mousing, shirking, skulking, sliding, slinking, slipping, snaking, sneaking, stealing
    related: crawling, creeping, edging, inching, worming, ghosting, padding, tiptoeing

Related Entry: Pussyfoot (verb)

Pussyfoot is a different word from Pussyfooting. The synonyms below are for pussyfoot, not for pussyfooting.

  1. to avoid giving a definite answer or position

    "politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues"

    similar: equivocate, fudge, hedge, tergiversate, waffle, weasel, beat around the bush, hem and haw, straddle the fence
    related: flip-flop, yo-yo, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun, sidestep, skirt, bypass, circumvent, cavil, quibble, straddle

  2. to move about in a sly or secret manner

    "pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night"

    similar: lurk, mooch, mouse, shirk, skulk, slide, slink, slip, snake, sneak, steal
    related: crawl, creep, edge, inch, worm, ghost, pad, tiptoe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pussyfooting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pussyfooting:

equivocating, fudging, hedging, tergiversating, waffling, weaseling, lurking, mooching, mousing, shirking, skulking, sliding, slinking, slipping, snaking, sneaking, stealing, beating around the bush, hemming and hawing, straddling the fence

Related Words for Pussyfooting

flip-flopping, yo-yoing, dodging, ducking, eluding, eschewing, evading, shaking, shunning, sidestepping, skirting, bypassing, circumventing, caviling, quibbling, straddling, crawling, creeping, edging, inching, worming, ghosting, padding, tiptoeing

Word Forms of Pussyfooting

Inflections: pussyfooted, pussyfoots

Derived words: pussyfooter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Pussyfooting

First known use: 1905

Frequently Asked Questions about Pussyfooting

What does "Pussyfooting" mean?

"Pussyfooting" means to tread or move warily or stealthily. As a verb, it is defined as: to tread or move warily or stealthily. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pussyfooting"?

Other words for "Pussyfooting" include equivocating, fudging, hedging, tergiversating, waffling, weaseling, lurking and mooching. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pussyfooting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pussyfooting"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pussyfooting". Common alternatives include equivocating, fudging, hedging, tergiversating, waffling, weaseling, lurking, mooching, mousing and shirking.

How do you use "Pussyfooting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pussyfooting" in a sentence: "politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues"; "pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night".

Is "Pussyfooting" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pussyfooting" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Pussyfooting"?

"Pussyfooting" is pronounced /ˈpu̇-sē-ˌfu̇t/ and divided into syllables as pussy·foot.

What is the origin of the word "Pussyfooting"?

First known use: 1905.

What is another word for "Pussyfooting" meaning "to avoid giving a definite answer or position"?

When "Pussyfooting" (verb) means to avoid giving a definite answer or position, synonyms include equivocating, fudging, hedging, tergiversating, waffling and weaseling.