Which word means to stray from or evade the truth?

The term that means to stray from or evade the truth is "prevaricate." This word specifically refers to the act of speaking or acting in an evasive or misleading manner, often to avoid telling the truth or to provide an inaccurate representation of facts. In contexts where honesty is expected, to prevaricate suggests not just a simple lie but a deliberate avoidance of the truth while perhaps still engaging in conversation.

In contrast, the other options do not convey this meaning. "Pretext" refers to a reason given for an action that is not the real reason, often used to justify actions that might otherwise be seen as wrong. "Problematic" describes something that poses a problem or difficulty, not related to truth evasion. "Pretentious" relates to attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed, which does not involve evasion of truth either. Thus, "prevaricate" is the most accurate term for straying from or evading the truth.