evasive

adjective

eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
-ziv,
ē-
: tending or intended to evade : equivocal
evasive answers
evasively adverb
evasiveness noun

Examples of evasive in a Sentence

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.
Still, Trump has been evasive about a specific agency or position. Hanna Trudo, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2024 The Trump supporters at times boxed in the bus, slowed it down, kept it from exiting the highway and repeatedly forced the bus driver to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision, the lawsuit says. Nadia Lathan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024 The Naval Strike Missile, developed by Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, can challenge an adversary’s defenses by flying at sea-skimming altitudes and making evasive maneuvers in flight at a range of 115 miles (185 kilometers). Brad Lendon, CNN, 27 July 2024 What works for a three-minute single, however, isn’t easily stretched out to 90 minutes, and what is mysterious and evocative or evasive or ironic in a song can be dully matter-of-fact on the screen. Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for evasive 

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evasive was in 1637

Dictionary Entries Near evasive

Cite this Entry

“Evasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evasive. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

evasive

adjective
eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
-ziv
: tending or meant to evade
gave an evasive answer
evasively adverb
evasiveness noun

Legal Definition

evasive

adjective
eva·​sive i-ˈvā-siv, -ziv How to pronounce evasive (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on evasive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!