pussyfoot

verb

pussy·​foot ˈpu̇-sē-ˌfu̇t How to pronounce pussyfoot (audio)
pussyfooted; pussyfooting; pussyfoots

intransitive verb

1
: to tread or move warily or stealthily
2
: to refrain from committing oneself
pussyfooter noun

Examples of pussyfoot in a Sentence

He should stop pussyfooting and tell us what he wants to do. politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues
Recent Examples on the Web In an interview that aired on NBC News this week, DeSantis for the first time finally stopped pussyfooting around whether Trump won in 2020. Philip Elliott, Time, 8 Aug. 2023 Yet other people want to pussyfoot around. Ed Symkus, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2020 What a crazy, zany coincidence that Harden pussyfooted around the controversy set off by Morey’s tweet. Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 12 Oct. 2019 Deputy Managing Editor Yesha Callahan is gonna be mad at this short-ass lede, but today there’s no need to pussyfoot around. Michael Harriot, The Root, 15 June 2018 No pussyfooting around here: Sell-offs are painful. Anna-Louise Jackson, latimes.com, 9 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pussyfoot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pussyfoot was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near pussyfoot

Cite this Entry

“Pussyfoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pussyfoot. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pussyfoot

verb
pussy·​foot -ˌfu̇t How to pronounce pussyfoot (audio)
1
: to walk or move in a careful or sneaky manner
2
: to avoid taking a firm stand (as in a dispute)
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