evade

verb \i-ˈvād, ē-\

: to stay away from (someone or something) : to avoid (someone or something)

: to avoid dealing with or facing (something)

: to avoid doing (something required)

evad·edevad·ing

Full Definition of EVADE

intransitive verb

: to slip away

: to take refuge in escape or avoidance

transitive verb

: to elude by dexterity or stratagem

a : to avoid facing up to <evaded the real issues>

b : to avoid the performance of : dodge, circumvent; especially : to fail to pay (taxes)

c : to avoid answering directly : turn aside

: to be elusive to : baffle <the simple, personal meaning evaded them — C. D. Lewis>

— evad·able \-ˈvā-də-bəl\ adjective

— evad·er noun

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Origin of EVADE

Middle French & Latin; Middle French evader, from Latin evadere, from e- + vadere to go, walk — more at wade

First Known Use: 1513

Related to EVADE

Synonyms: avoid, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, escape, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)

Synonym Discussion of EVADE

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something. escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent <nothing escapes her sharp eyes>. avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty <try to avoid past errors>. evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding <evaded the question by changing the subject>. elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes <what she sees in him eludes me>. shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence <you have shunned your responsibilities>. eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful <a playwright who eschews melodrama>.