EVASIVE Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

evasive

adjective

i-ˈvā-siv

as in elusive

hard to find, capture, or isolate believers in Bigfoot have never quite explained how such a large creature can be so evasive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of evasive Most are evasive, a few are obsequious, many are defiant, a few are enraged, and all appear to feel their lives slipping away under the seemingly boundless force of judicial inquisition. —

Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026 And Rubio was evasive when asked about Moscow and Beijing in the brief question-and-answer session. —

Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026 Three minutes of comedy chasing and evasive action ensued before play resumed, only for the four-legged fiend to return to wreak more havoc than the home attack had previously shown. —

Craig Chisnall, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026 Cast members have been evasive to the point of parody. —

Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evasive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evasive

elusive

Adjective

And succeeding as a leader in America today takes not only a special person with traits like authenticity and trustworthiness, but also a support system that is increasingly elusive — from the halls of Congress to the football gridiron.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Peter Matthiessen wrote a remarkable book, The Snow Leopard, about searching for, and never finding, one of the most elusive animals on earth.

— David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026