adjective
-
tending or seeking to evade; avoiding the issue; not straightforward
-
avoiding or seeking to avoid trouble or difficulties
to take evasive action
-
hard to catch or obtain; elusive
Other Word Forms
- evasively adverb
- evasiveness noun
- nonevasive adjective
- nonevasively adverb
- nonevasiveness noun
- unevasive adjective
- unevasively adverb
- unevasiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of evasive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He described him as "distracted, not focussed, guarded, suspicious and evasive".
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
The answer is evasive but also magnanimous, as befits Mr. Youngkin’s personality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Speaking on the eve of his side's home game against high-flying Aston Villa, he was evasive when asked about the United job.
From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026
Judge Ellis wrote that she “specifically finds his testimony not credible,” adding: “Bovino appeared evasive over the three days of his deposition, either providing ‘cute’ responses to plaintiffs’ counsel’s questions or outright lying.”
From Slate • Nov. 21, 2025
They went the wrong way first and took evasive action through a garage and around a stack of garbage pails.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
