evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
-ziv,
ē-
: tending or intended to evade : equivocal
evasive answers
evasively adverb
evasiveness noun

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

She gave an evasive answer. They took evasive action to avoid capture.
Recent Examples on the Web But thankfully the pilot of the private plane took evasive action, avoiding a crash. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2023 The response struck even his defenders as awkward and evasive. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 Prosecutors allege the filing of that year’s tax returns for both Biden and his business, Owasco PC, was fraudulent and evasive. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2023 He has been slammed for his shaky demeanor and evasive responses. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Elon Musk’s history with drugs—from marijuana to ketamine—has been widely documented, and this month has brought new reports suggesting his use of mind-altering substances is more evasive than previously known. Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2024 On Saturday at a media day in Houston in advance of the championship game, Harbaugh was evasive when asked about how the result of Monday’s game against the Huskies will influence his interest in coaching in the NFL. Craig Meyer, Detroit Free Press, 6 Jan. 2024 Outrage grew in early December after Dr. Gay gave what critics saw as lawyerly, evasive answers before Congress when asked whether calls for the genocide of Jewish people were violations of school policies. Anemona Hartocollis Annie Karni Anemona Hartocollis Dana Goldstein Dana Goldstein Anemona Hartocollis Rob Copeland Rob Copeland Jennifer Schuessler Anemona Hartocollis Sarah Mervosh Dana Goldstein Annie Karni Anna Betts Anna Betts Sean Plambeck The New York Times Anemona Hartocollis Anemona Hartocollis Anemona Hartocollis The New York Times Anemona Hartocollis Anna Betts, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2024 Claudine Gay will stay on as president of Harvard University, the school’s governing board announced on Tuesday, despite an uproar over her evasive answers at a congressional hearing about campus antisemitism. Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'evasive.' 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

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evasive was in 1637

Dictionary Entries Near evasive

Cite this Entry

“Evasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evasive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

evasive

adjective
eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
-ziv
: tending or meant to evade
gave an evasive answer
evasively adverb
evasiveness noun

Legal Definition

evasive

adjective
eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv, -ziv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
: tending or intending to evade

Note: Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(4), an evasive or incomplete answer to an interrogatory or to a question at a deposition is treated as a failure to answer and may be subject to an opponent's motion to compel an answer.

evasively adverb
evasiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on evasive

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