parries
par-ries
noun
Quick defensive movements to ward off attacks; clever evasions of questions.
"His quick parries saved him from the blow."
verb
Skillfully deflects or wards off an attack; cleverly avoids a difficult question.
"The skilled fencer parries his opponent's thrust."
Thesaurus
Synonyms: evade, circumvent, sidestep, parry, fudge, put off, duck, dodge, hedge, elude, skirt, deflect