Illustration of weasel
- weasel 1
plural weasels
1
or plural weasel
: any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (such as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly brown with white or yellowish underparts, and in northern forms turn white in winter compare ermine sense 1a
2
: a light self-propelled tracked vehicle built either for traveling over snow, ice, or sand or as an amphibious vehicle
3
: a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person
weaseled; weaseling
ˈwēz-liŋ 
ˈwē-zə-
1
: to use weasel words : equivocate
2
: to escape from or evade a situation or obligation
—often used with out
: to manipulate shiftily
Synonyms
Examples of weasel in a Sentence
Verb
the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Peter Sarsgaard was turning his character into a despicable little weasel through a masterclass of smirks.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024
These weeds—the ones that do the impossible and weasel their way through cracks in the patio, concrete, pavers, and driveway—can be so difficult to remove since most weeding tools don’t fit in between the cracks.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
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Noun
Observations on the efficiency of the Japanese weasel, Mustela sibirica itatsi Temminck and Schlegel, as a rat-control agent in the Ryukyus
PLOS ONE.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Peter Sarsgaard was turning his character into a despicable little weasel through a masterclass of smirks.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024
Verb
But when Douglas doesn’t invite her to the business dinner, the show suddenly takes a turn into wacky sitcom territory, with Maxine trying to weasel her way into Douglas’s business to meet and invite the Prince to the Beach Ball.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024
These weeds—the ones that do the impossible and weasel their way through cracks in the patio, concrete, pavers, and driveway—can be so difficult to remove since most weeding tools don’t fit in between the cracks.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for weasel
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Cite this Entry
“Weasel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weasel. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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