Weasel Words: Definition & Examples

Have you ever read something that sounded great but left you confused? Maybe it was an ad that promised amazing results but didn't say how. Or a politician who made big promises but didn't explain how they'd do it.

These are called Weasel words.

They make conversations sound good without really meaning anything. You see them everywhere – in ads, speeches, & even in everyday conversations.

In this blog post, we'll explain what weasel words are & why people use them. We'll also give you examples so you can recognize them easily.

What Are Weasel Words?

Weasel words are specific words or phrases that make writing sound great, but they don't really promise anything. These words are used to convince you of something without actually saying it clearly.

For example, someone might say, “Our product may help you lose weight.” 

That sounds good!

However, it doesn't guarantee anything. You might lose weight, you might not – they're not really saying.

Examples of Weasel Words

Marketers, politicians, & writers often use Weasel words to make you think they're offering something amazing, even when they're not.

Weasel Word in Politics

Politicians use these words. 

For example, a politician might say, “I will work hard to create more jobs.” 

It sounds promising!

But what if he doesn't create any jobs? 

The word “work hard” is a Weasel word. It shows he’ll try, but it doesn't guarantee anything.

Weasel Word in Advertising

Imagine you see an ad for a new phone. It says, “This phone may help you take amazing pictures." 

Sounds great, right? 

But what if it doesn't actually take stunning pictures? The word “may” is a Weasel word here. It makes it sound like the phone is amazing, but it doesn't promise anything.

Most Common Weasel Words

Up to

This sets a limit that might never be reached. For example, "Save up to 30%." You might only save 10%.

Helps

This suggests something might improve things, but doesn't guarantee it. For example, “This shampoo helps reduce dandruff.” It might not completely get rid of it.

Could

When you see the word “could,” it means something might happen, but it's not guaranteed. For example, if someone says, “This drink could make you happy,” it doesn't mean it definitely will.

Amazing

The word “amazing” is used way too much & doesn't really mean anything special. It lacks specific details and can be easily applied to anything. For example, if you see an ad that says, “Get amazing results!” You don't know what those results actually are.

Believe

Using “believe” instead of stating facts can make an argument less impactful. For example, “I believe this product is the best on the market.”  This example doesn’t sound as strong as stating facts.

Possibly

This word introduces uncertainty in the text & avoids making a solid claim. Consider this example “It will possibly rain tomorrow.” This sentence means you think it might rain, but you’re not 100% sure.

Many

The word “Many” is vague. It doesn't provide specific numbers, so we can’t understand how important something truly is. For example, “Many studies have shown...”

Often

The word “often” doesn't tell us exactly how many times something happens. For example, if we say “Customers often complain about...”, we don't know if it's a few times a day, a few times a week, or just occasionally.

I would say that

This phrase weakens your sentences by introducing hesitation & uncertainty. For example, “I would say that this is a good product.” You could simply say that this is a good product.

Bottom Lines

We often encounter Weasel words in our everyday language. They influence our thoughts without us even noticing. If you learn to identify these words, you'll think better and make smarter decisions. Good luck!