When you are trying to escape from someone or something, you might use the verbs elude or evade. But what is the difference between these two words? Elude means to avoid or escape from someone or something by cunning or quickness. Evade means to avoid capture, danger, or difficulty by retreating, dodging, or subterfuge. So, if you are looking to make a clean getaway, it is important to know which word to use!
What is Elude?
Elude means to avoid or escape from something, typically by use of ingenuity or skill. Elude is derived from the Latin word ēlūdere, which means to mock or make fun of. Elude is often used in the context of trying to avoid capture, as in “the criminal eluded the police for weeks.” It can also be used more generally, as in “she has been successful in eluding her pursuers.” Elude can also be used transitively, as in “he eluded my questions.” Elude is similar to evade, but it is less often used in the context of physical escape. Additionally, elude often implies a greater degree of cleverness or skill than evade.
What is Evade?
Evade is defined as to avoid or try to avoid (something or someone), typically by using cunning or deception. An example of Evade is a person telling their boss they are sick when they really just don’t want to go to work that day. Another example of Evade is a person walking around the block instead of going into the grocery store because they know they will spend too much money if they go in. Evade comes from the Latin word evasionem meaning “a going away, flight.” The first known use of Evade was in the 14th century.
Synonyms for Evade include elude, escape, shun and avoid. Antonyms for Evade are include face, confront and tackle. When Evade is used as a transitive verb it means to avoid answering or dealing with (a question or problem) by offering excuses or evading the issue. When Evade is used as an intransitive verb it means to move quickly away from someone or something so as not be seen or caught.
Difference between Elude and Evade
Elude and evade have similar definitions, but there is a subtle difference between the two words. Elude typically refers to avoiding capture or detection, while evade usually indicates an intention to deliberately avoid something.
- For example, a criminal might elude the police, but someone trying to avoid an unpleasant conversation might say they are going to evade the issue. Elude can also be used in a more general sense, as when someone tries to elude responsibility for their actions.
- In contrast, evade is often used in relation to taxes or other laws. For example, someone might try to evade taxes by hiding their income, or they might attempt to evade the law by breaking it.
- While both words denote an avoidance of something, elude suggests cleverness or skillfulness in doing so, while evade implies an intention to avoid something.
Conclusion
The words elude and evade have similar meanings, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Elude means to avoid or escape from someone or something, while evade means to get away from or dodge an attack. If you are trying to choose the right word for your situation, it’s important to understand the distinction between these two terms.
