Meaning & use
noncommittal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Deliberately not stating a clear opinion, choice or promise, so that you are not tied to any position.
Grammar: Describes a person, answer or reply: a noncommittal shrug, or He was noncommittal.
Patterns
- noncommittal about something
- a noncommittal answer
When asked about the merger, the director gave a noncommittal reply.
She stayed noncommittal about whether she would attend.
His noncommittal shrug left us unsure what he thought.
adjectivebefore a noun
Showing no sign of feeling or reaction, such as a blank or neutral expression.
Grammar: Often describes a face, tone or smile: a noncommittal smile.
Patterns
- a noncommittal expression
The judge kept a noncommittal expression throughout the speech.
She nodded with a noncommittal smile.
The waiter's tone was polite and noncommittal.
Word forms
| comparative | more noncommittal |
|---|---|
| superlative | most noncommittal |
Common combinations
- noncommittal answer
- He gave a noncommittal answer when asked about the job offer.
- remain noncommittal
- The minister remained noncommittal on the tax plan.
- noncommittal response
- The company's noncommittal response disappointed investors.
- noncommittal shrug
- A noncommittal shrug was all I got in reply.
- noncommittal tone
- She spoke in a noncommittal tone to avoid an argument.
Synonyms and how they differ
- evasive
- Evasive suggests actively dodging a question, which is more suspicious than noncommittal, which may just be cautious.
- guarded
- Guarded means careful not to reveal too much, often because of distrust, while noncommittal means avoiding a firm position.
- equivocal
- Equivocal is a formal word for an answer that can be read in more than one way, whereas noncommittal simply avoids choosing.
- neutral
- Neutral describes a lack of bias or side-taking, while noncommittal describes holding back from making a promise.
Opposites
Word family
- commit verb
- to promise yourself or give yourself fully to something
- commitment noun
- a firm promise or dedication to something
- noncommittally adverb
- in a way that avoids stating a clear opinion
- uncommitted adjective
- not yet decided or promised to a side
Commonly confused: noncommittal or uncommitted? noncommittal or uncommunicative?
noncommittal vs uncommitted
Uncommitted describes someone who has not decided or joined a side, while noncommittal describes the careful way someone speaks to avoid taking a position.
noncommittal vs uncommunicative
Uncommunicative means unwilling to talk at all, but a noncommittal person talks without saying anything definite.
Practice
When I asked if she liked my idea, she gave a ______ answer: 'It might work, we will see.'
Choose one answer.
A noncommittal answer avoids stating a clear opinion. Definite and enthusiastic would show a clear view, and nothing suggests anger.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “noncommittal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.