Elude

1. verb

   escape, either physically or mentally

   “The thief eluded the police”

   Similar: evade, bilk

2. verb

   be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by

   “What you are seeing in him eludes me”

   Similar: escape

3. verb

   avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

   “He dodged the issue”

   Similar: hedge, fudge, evade, put off, circumvent, parry, skirt, dodge, duck, sidestep