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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She gave an evasive answer. They took evasive action to avoid capture.
Recent Examples on the Web That’s a very short amount of time to plan an evasive maneuver. 
Eric Mack, Forbes, 15 July 2022 According to one story, as Billington took aim, Newcomen fled toward the shelter of nearby trees—an evasive maneuver that had every chance of success, given firearms technology at that time. Phil Klay, The New Yorker, 11 June 2022 If there is sufficient time available for the human driver to take evasive action, this indeed might be a sensible and proper thing for the AI to do. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Despite evasive action, the tiny destroyer escort received several hits from 14-inch guns, delivered by either the battleships Kongo or Haruna, hits meant to destroy ships 30 or more times their own size. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2022 Additional forensic data available for eleven of the collisions indicated that no drivers took evasive action between 2-5 seconds prior to impact, and the vehicle reported all had their hands on the steering wheel leading up to the impact. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 9 June 2022 The parents and taxpayers deserve honest answers, not evasive action. WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022 If your husband continues to be evasive, talk to a lawyer. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 27 July 2022 Biden, who tested positive for COVID last week, on Wednesday acknowledged how evasive the BA.5 variant is, even as vaccines, boosters, and therapeutics are blunting the deadliness and severity of the current wave. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 28 July 2022 See More
Eric Mack, Forbes, 15 July 2022 According to one story, as Billington took aim, Newcomen fled toward the shelter of nearby trees—an evasive maneuver that had every chance of success, given firearms technology at that time. Phil Klay, The New Yorker, 11 June 2022 If there is sufficient time available for the human driver to take evasive action, this indeed might be a sensible and proper thing for the AI to do. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Despite evasive action, the tiny destroyer escort received several hits from 14-inch guns, delivered by either the battleships Kongo or Haruna, hits meant to destroy ships 30 or more times their own size. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2022 Additional forensic data available for eleven of the collisions indicated that no drivers took evasive action between 2-5 seconds prior to impact, and the vehicle reported all had their hands on the steering wheel leading up to the impact. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 9 June 2022 The parents and taxpayers deserve honest answers, not evasive action. WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022 If your husband continues to be evasive, talk to a lawyer. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 27 July 2022 Biden, who tested positive for COVID last week, on Wednesday acknowledged how evasive the BA.5 variant is, even as vaccines, boosters, and therapeutics are blunting the deadliness and severity of the current wave. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1637, in the meaning defined above
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.
evasiveness
noun
as in secretiveness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- secretiveness
- indirection
- reticence
- dissembling
- dissimulation
- circuitousness
- shyness
- inhibition
- diplomacy
- tact
- restraint
- reserve
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- frankness
- directness
- forthrightness
- candor
- honesty
- bluntness
- openness
- outspokenness
- straightforwardness
- sincerity
- candidness
- plainness
- earnestness
- plumpness
- sobriety
- naiveté
- naïveté
- openheartedness
- naivete
- simplicity
- genuineness
- artlessness
- unguardedness
- unreserve
- unreservedness
- plainspokenness
- unsophistication