evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv 

-ziv, 

ē-

: tending or intended to evade : equivocal

evasive answers

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

Synonyms of evasive

• elusive

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

She gave an evasive answer.

They took evasive action to avoid capture.

Recent Examples on the Web

The last two episodes give the first real indications that the show is capable of being smartly tricky with its structure and timeline, rather than just annoyingly evasive. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025

Ultimately, this could prevent them from performing evasive maneuvers, leading to a catastrophic Kessler Syndrome scenario. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025

The fighter jets were lost due to malfunction, a friendly fire shootdown, and a defensive evasive maneuver, according to the Navy's investigation. —MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Then our hero traps and wounds a Night Fury, a uniquely evasive and dangerous breed of dragon, and winds up secretly befriending it. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv 

-ziv

: tending or meant to evade

gave an evasive answer

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

Legal Definition

evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv, -ziv 

: 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