evasiveness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "evasiveness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the quality of being evasive or avoiding direct answers, often in the context of communication or behavior. Example: "His evasiveness during the interview raised suspicions about his honesty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, it was difficult to decide which was worst: the evasiveness of the politicians, the nauseating self-righteousness of most of the audience or the stale repetition of questions raised in earlier debates.

The Guardian

And given Iran's long history of evasiveness on the nuclear issue, the suspicion is that it is merely buying time for its centrifuges.

The Economist

Even more damning has been the evasiveness and lack of credibility under questioning of one Microsoft executive after another, from Bill Gates downwards.When, as in the Microsoft case, a monopolist's conduct seems to be chilling innovation in markets in which the competition is largely defined by innovation, the argument for antitrust intervention is compelling.

The Economist

Perversely, this lets his Tory opponent avoid tough choices too: if Mr Brown insists current spending can and should go merrily up, David Cameron need only attack him for evasiveness to score points.

The Economist

As it happens, I interviewed Mr Goodwin for an article on West Virginia's judiciary (he was on the committee that reviewed the state's judiciary), and found him to have that rare blend of verbosity, evasiveness and mastery of boilerplate that augurs a long career in politics.

The Economist

One brand, Kotex, decided to parody the typical evasiveness of such mealy-mouthed marketing in an advert a brilliant idea, until American networks refused to air spots that mentioned where the product would be used.

The Economist

A gulp and a bit of evasiveness could be forgiven even if it were asked in an off-the-record interview by a brash, foot-in-door journalist in some western city.

The Economist

What you think of as cautious politesse, Israelis might construe as evasiveness or uncertainty.

The Economist

If you leave out the by-phrase then the agent doesn't get specified, but that's often exactly the right way to phrase things, and doesn't imply any deviousness or evasiveness... Do government ministers use more passives in statements after policies fail?

The Economist

The CIA dismissed them as naive.In the face of such conviction, any evasiveness from Iraq one of the world's most corrupt and incompetent regimes was taken as an indication of guilt.

The Economist

But Mr Haynes evasiveness seemed to have a purpose greater than saving his own hide.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions or statements, use "evasiveness" to highlight a deliberate attempt to avoid directness or transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "evasiveness" when "shyness" is more appropriate. "Evasiveness" implies a deliberate intent to avoid a topic, while "shyness" suggests discomfort or social anxiety.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "evasiveness" is as a noun, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it describes a quality or characteristic. For example, "His evasiveness during the interview was noticeable."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "evasiveness" is a commonly used noun that describes the quality of being evasive, often in the context of avoiding direct answers or transparency. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in news and media, encyclopedias, and formal business contexts. When using "evasiveness", ensure it accurately reflects a deliberate attempt to avoid a topic and not merely shyness or discomfort. Consider alternatives like "lack of candor" or "indirectness" for nuanced expression. Its register is typically neutral to formal, lending itself to objective analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of candor

Emphasizes the absence of honesty and straightforwardness.

indirectness

Highlights the roundabout nature of communication.

equivocation

Focuses on the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth.

prevarication

Stresses the act of deviating from the truth.

dodging the question

Describes the act of avoiding a direct response.

beating around the bush

Implies avoiding the main point through circumlocution.

obfuscation

Highlights the act of making something unclear or unintelligible.

stonewalling

Suggests deliberate obstruction and refusal to cooperate.

shifty behavior

Focuses on suspicious and untrustworthy actions.

elusiveness

Highlights the difficulty in capturing or understanding something.

FAQs

How to use "evasiveness" in a sentence?

You can use "evasiveness" to describe someone's behavior when they are avoiding a direct answer or being intentionally ambiguous. For example: "The politician's "evasiveness" during the interview raised concerns about their honesty."

What can I say instead of "evasiveness"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of candor", "indirectness", or "equivocation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "evasiveness" or "avoidance"?

Both "evasiveness" and "avoidance" can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Evasiveness" implies a deliberate attempt to avoid something, especially a direct answer, while "avoidance" is a more general term for keeping away from something.

What's the difference between "evasiveness" and "elusiveness"?

"Evasiveness" refers to the quality of avoiding directness or clarity, especially in communication, whereas "elusiveness" describes something that is difficult to catch, find, understand, or remember.