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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They can maneuver evasively, honk or make other sounds, including telling people outside the vehicle that 911 is being called.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 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
“It’s just a book,” she said evasively, looking about with apprehension.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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.
