evasive

[ih-vey-siv]

See more synonyms for evasive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending or seeking to evade; characterized by evasion: an evasive answer.
elusive or evanescent.

Origin of evasive

First recorded in 1715–25; evas(ion) + -ive

Related formse·va·sive·ly, adverbe·va·sive·ness, nounnon·e·va·sive, adjectivenon·e·va·sive·ly, adverbnon·e·va·sive·ness, nounun·e·va·sive, adjectiveun·e·va·sive·ly, adverbun·e·va·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for evasive

Contemporary Examples

He did not however say that Putin lied, but rather that the Russian president's response was "suspiciously narrow" and evasive.
Sorry, Snowden: Putin Lied to You About His Surveillance State—And Made You a Pawn of It
Eli Lake
April 18, 2014
I've never seen London Mayor Boris Johnson look so awkward, evasive, and non-credible as in this BBC interview.
Boris Johnson's Awfully Embarrassing Interview
David Frum
March 26, 2013
The rhetoric was mostly as empty of substance and evasive on details as a Paul Ryan budget.
Obama Must Fight One More Campaign: To Keep Senate & Win House in 2014
Robert Shrum
February 8, 2013
Starting Jan. 1, 2013, taxes would rise on individuals across the board if no evasive action was taken.
Obama Brinksmanship Puts GOP in Tough Spot on Debt Ceiling
Daniel Gross
January 14, 2013
Yet a big part of the reason that debate is so phony and evasive is the Jewish Democrats in Congress.
What The Hagel Fight Reveals
Peter Beinart
January 8, 2013

Historical Examples

Even Aunt Clara noticed it, and had to be put off with evasive reasons.
The Mystery of Murray Davenport
Robert Neilson Stephens
Mrs. Barnes' answer was evasive and Georgie noticed the evasion.
Thankful's Inheritance
Joseph C. Lincoln
The soldier made some evasive response to this raillery and then became silent.
The Strollers
Frederic S. Isham
I tried to approach him concerning it, but he was evasive, and put me off, laughingly.
The Crevice
William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
For days his eyes had been furtive and evasive, but now at last they were steady.
Hidden Water
Dane Coolidge

British Dictionary definitions for evasive

evasive

adjective

tending or seeking to evade; avoiding the issue; not straightforward
avoiding or seeking to avoid trouble or difficultiesto take evasive action
hard to catch or obtain; elusive

Derived Formsevasively, adverbevasiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for evasive

adj.

1725, from French évasif, from Latin evas-, past participle stem of evadere (see evasion). Related: Evasively; evasiveness.

evasive

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}evasive

Examples from the Web for evasive

Contemporary Examples

He did not however say that Putin lied, but rather that the Russian president's response was "suspiciously narrow" and evasive.

I've never seen London Mayor Boris Johnson look so awkward, evasive, and non-credible as in this BBC interview.

The rhetoric was mostly as empty of substance and evasive on details as a Paul Ryan budget.

Starting Jan. 1, 2013, taxes would rise on individuals across the board if no evasive action was taken.

Yet a big part of the reason that debate is so phony and evasive is the Jewish Democrats in Congress.

Historical Examples

Even Aunt Clara noticed it, and had to be put off with evasive reasons.

Mrs. Barnes' answer was evasive and Georgie noticed the evasion.

The soldier made some evasive response to this raillery and then became silent.

I tried to approach him concerning it, but he was evasive, and put me off, laughingly.

For days his eyes had been furtive and evasive, but now at last they were steady.

evasive

Word Origin and History for evasive

adj.

Origin of evasive