evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv 

-ziv,

ē-

: tending or intended to evade : equivocal

evasive answers

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

Synonyms

• elusive
• fugitive
• slippery

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

She gave an evasive answer.

They took evasive action to avoid capture.

Recent Examples on the Web

Julius, its cultured and evasive Nigerian narrator, takes refuge from stressful shifts as a fellow in psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital by wandering the streets. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023

Instead, such groups offer intentionally ambivalent or evasive statements. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023

But, after six months of e-mails and phone calls and another meeting in Zimbabwe, Wentzel remained evasive. —Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023

Cruise says this sort of evasive maneuver was built into the vehicle’s software to promote safety, and is required by both California and federal regulators. —WIRED, 24 Oct. 2023

The pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection. —Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023

And in July, an Allegiant Air flight attendant was injured after that plane also took evasive action to avoid hitting a private plane. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2023

Armed Driver Think a stock Jason Statham character: a chauffeur trained in evasive maneuvers to avoid kidnapping and who will escort the client to and from the jet tarmac. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023

More than a dozen galleries and artists had abetted what investigators characterized as Mr. Ahmad’s evasive tactics, the indictment asserted. —Graham Bowley, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023

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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