いなす

い

な

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used for physically or verbally deflecting an attack, question, or argument; implies a smooth, controlled redirection rather than a clumsy dodge.

記き

者しゃ

の

厳きび

しい

質しつ

問もん

を

巧たく

み

に

い

なし

た

。

She skillfully sidestepped the reporter's tough question.

いなすUsage94%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji forms 往なす and 去なす are rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
往いなすUsage4%
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
去いなすUsage2%
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.

かわす
かわす also means 'to dodge' or 'to parry', but いなす emphasizes a smooth, deflecting motion, often with a nuance of controlling the opponent's force, while かわす is a more general term for avoiding something.
避さける
避ける means 'to avoid' in a broader sense, including physical avoidance or staying away from something unpleasant; いなす is specifically about deflecting an incoming attack or question at close range.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the classical verb 往ぬ (いぬ, 'to go away') with an auxiliary suffix, but the exact derivation is unclear.