evasively

American  

[ee-vays-iv-lee] / iˈveɪs ɪv li /

adverb

1. in an evasive manner or position; in a way that avoids capture, detection, or contact.

2. in a way that evades responsibility or avoids clear and direct communication.

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Explanation

To do something evasively is to do it in a round about, indirect, or slightly sneaky way. When a politician responds to a question evasively, she avoids a straightforward, honest answer. When you speak evasively, you come very close to lying — you're not being forthright, but are instead skirting around what's true. A criminal in court might answer a lawyer's questions evasively, and someone who's using a fake name might behave evasively when asked about his history. If you move evasively, you avoid being caught, and the Latin root, evadere, means "to get away or escape."

Example Sentences

There are technological and biological wonders inside the sleek San Gabriel offices of Seamus Blackley, which are evasively named — intentionally so — Pacific Light & Hologram.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025

US Navy warships fired Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, which are GPS-guided and can be programmed to fly evasively, the US military says.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2024

The two got into Ms. Tambur’s car and drove to Niagara Falls; the DOJ alleges that the car stopped frequently and was driven evasively, purportedly to try and lose surveillance trailing them.

From Washington Times • Aug. 12, 2023

It took two years for the counsel’s office to respond and, even then, only evasively: Yes, the reply read, such attacks might be acts of war—but the precise circumstances were left vague.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2019

“The child will grow as children do, I expect,” Glerk said evasively.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill