evasive
Hard to catch
Evasive describes behavior that avoids directness or commitment.
An evasive answer sidesteps the question rather than addressing it.
Evasive maneuvers help a vehicle or aircraft avoid detection or attack.
Someone being evasive is deliberately vague, withholding information or dodging confrontation: She grew evasive when asked about her whereabouts.
Avoid by quick movement
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- duckWaterbird that quacks
- deflectTurn from course
- skirtWaist-hung lower garment
circumvent · parry · elude · escape · shirk · shy away · stonewall · fend off
Having multiple interpretations
- unclearNot easily understood
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- crypticObscure in meaning
indirect · cagey · guarded · hedging · oblique · circumlocutory · elusive · slippery
Causing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
- dissemblingConcealing true motives
dishonest · prevaricating · untruthful · two-faced · deceitful · false · lying · sophistry
Deliberate tactical movement
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- diversionRedirection of attention
- flankingAt the sides of
guerrilla · hit-and-run · ambush · retreat · counterintelligence · camouflage · stealth · subterfuge
dodge
Avoid by quick movement
skirt · circumvent · parry · elude · escape · shirk · shy away · stonewall · fend off · brush off
ambiguous
Having multiple interpretations
- unclearNot easily understood
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
cryptic · indirect · cagey · guarded · hedging · oblique · circumlocutory · elusive · slippery · unforthcoming
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
dissembling · dishonest · prevaricating · untruthful · two-faced · deceitful · false · lying · sophistry · equivocation
maneuver
Deliberate tactical movement
flanking · guerrilla · hit-and-run · ambush · retreat · counterintelligence · camouflage · stealth · subterfuge · outmaneuver
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- agilityagile, nimble, quick, lithe, spry
- body language descriptorsopen, closed, tense, relaxed, stiff
- speaking stylesarticulate, blunt, candid, conversational, casual
- indirecthint, detour, roundabout, veiled, implied
- Avoiding Answersdodge, deflect, sidestep, equivocate, hedge
evasivedirect
Undeviating or to guide
straightforward · forthright · straight · frank · to the point
evasivecandid
Honest and direct
honest · truthful · open · forthcoming · transparent
evasiveaccessible
Able to be reached
approachable · available · reachable · attainable · obtainable
- draft evasionAvoiding mandatory military service
- tax evasionIllegally avoiding government dues
- evasive maneuvers
- evasive actionMovement to escape harm
- fare evasionNot paying transit cost
- sanctions evasionAvoiding imposed trade restrictions