WordValeevasive
avoiding giving direct answers
In more detail
1. (adjective) trying to avoid answering a question or dealing with something directly
2. (adjective) intended to help someone avoid or escape from something
Examples
- 1. When I asked him where he spent the money, he gave an evasive answer.
- 2. The driver made an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
How to use evasive
Evasive is used to describe behavior or speech that deliberately avoids directness or commitment, typically implying dishonesty or reluctance to engage. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting someone is being unhelpfully vague or deliberately misleading, though it can be neutral when describing tactical moves (evasive action in driving). The word works for both intentional avoidance and the quality of being hard to pin down.
Common phrases
- evasive answer
- evasive action
- evasive maneuver
- give an evasive reply
- take evasive measures
Synonyms
elusive · evasive · noncommittal · dodgy · equivocal
Opposites
direct · straightforward · forthcoming
Word family
evade · evader · evasion · evasively · evasiveness
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse evasive with elusive; elusive means hard to catch or find, while evasive means deliberately avoiding or not committing to a direct answer.
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