-ās]iv, ]ēv also -āz] or ]əv adjective
Etymology: evas ion + -ive
1.
a. : tending to evade : not direct, candid, or forthright : equivocal
his answers were brief, constrained, and evasive — T.L.Peacock
if one persists in merely asking for the truth, they suspect hidden motives and become evasive — Norman Douglas
b. : avoiding confrontation : shifty
the monotonous voice, evasive eyes, and grim, tired face — Peggy Durdin
2.
a. : not easily caught : elusive
dug vigorously for the evasive prey, half fish, half eel — Anne D.Sedgwick
inspiration is not forever evasive — Warren Beck
b. : directed toward avoidance of or escape from enemy fire
mentioned … for skillful evasive tactics when … under attack by German night fighters — McGill News
— used especially in the phrase evasive action
all pilots are taught to take evasive action should their ammunition be exhausted — Keith Ayling
c. : escaping perception or definition : vague , nebulous , elusive
this menace from the north was intangible and evasive — John Buchan
since she had been brought so close to reality she had had less patience with evasive idealism — Ellen Glasgow