evasive

1 of 2

adjective

eva·sive i-ˈvā-siv

-ziv,

ē-

Synonyms of evasive

: tending or intended to evade : equivocal

evasive answers

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

evasiveness

2 of 2

noun

eva·sive·ness

|ivnə̇s,

|ēv- also |əv-

plural -es

: the quality or condition of being evasive

the most crushing blow of all has been the evasiveness of peace—T. H. Fielding

Synonyms of evasive

Relevance

Adjective

elusive

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

Adjective She gave an evasive answer. They took evasive action to avoid capture.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Today’s astro-weather encourages us to be emotionally intelligent without being evasive. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 In ever-busier Lisbon, where the term off-season has lost all meaning, a relaxed pace of life can be frustratingly evasive. — Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 James Blair, the former White House political director who left his government job to coordinate the president’s midterm efforts, was evasive in an interview with Sean Spicer, a former Republican spokesman who hosts a podcast. — Thomas Beaumont, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 James Blair, the former White House political director who left his government job to coordinate the president’s midterm efforts, was evasive in an interview with Sean Spicer, a former Republican spokesman who hosts a podcast. — Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for evasive

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of evasive was in 1637

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

evasional

evasive

evasively

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Evasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evasive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

evasive

adjective

eva·sive i-ˈvā-siv

-ziv

: tending or meant to evade

gave an evasive answer

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

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.

evasively adverb

evasiveness noun

evasive

adjective

noun

Synonyms of evasive

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

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