WordValeevasion
the act of avoiding directness
In more detail
1. (noun) the act of avoiding something, especially by being clever or dishonest
2. (noun) the act of escaping from a place or situation
Examples
- 1. The politician's evasion of the question frustrated the journalists.
- 2. The prisoner's evasion from the jail was front-page news.
How to use evasion
Evasion typically implies deliberate avoidance, often through cunning or dishonesty, rather than simple avoidance. It frequently appears in legal contexts (tax evasion) or when describing someone avoiding direct answers. The word carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that what is being avoided ought to be faced.
Common phrases
- tax evasion
- evasion of responsibility
- skillful evasion
- evasion tactics
- military evasion
- evasion of the question
Synonyms
avoidance · dodging · sidestepping · escape · circumvention
Opposites
confrontation · engagement
Word family
evade (verb) · evasive (adjective) · evasively (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse evasion with avoidance; evasion is more specific and implies evasiveness or dishonesty, while avoidance is more neutral and can be straightforward.
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