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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of this resulted in Car 63 having to brake heavily and take evasive action. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 Mizuhara, however, had become increasingly evasive, going dark for weeks at a time. David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025 Trumpian doublespeak is always evasive, even when accurate. Chris Brennan, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Good luck finding them In some instances, however, even the toughest digital privacy law cannot compete with evasive facial recognition companies operating overseas. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evasive

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evasive was in 1637

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Cite this Entry

“Evasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evasive. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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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