elusive

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ˈlü-ziv

: tending to elude: such as

a

: tending to evade grasp or pursuit

elusive prey

b

: hard to comprehend or define

c

: hard to isolate or identify

elusively adverb

elusiveness noun

Synonyms of elusive

• slippery
• transient
• evasive

Examples of elusive in a Sentence

But for all their influence, D.C. lobbyists have failed to attain one elusive goal: public respect. —Franklin Foer, New Republic, 25 Mar. 2002

In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an elusive one. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times, 4 Apr. 1998

His meanings have been known to be elusive, which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers. —Sarah Vowell, GQ, November 1998

This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle. —Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993

The truth may prove elusive.

the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants

Recent Examples on the Web

While the webinar touched on the many ways that AI can complement the design process, the discussion focused heavily on the importance of legal ownership over design, and how elusive that can be because of AI. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 24 July 2026

The concept has been around for a while, and multiple attempts have been made to achieve this reality, but success has remained elusive until now. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026

Will former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel be the play-designing architect to push him over the top and get him that elusive first playoff victory? — Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

But for many of the Bay Area’s roughly 38,000 unhoused residents, a similar path out of homelessness remains elusive. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin ēlūsus, past participle of ēlūdere "to trick, avoid, elude" + -ive

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

elusive

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

1

: hard to find or capture : evasive

elusive prey

2

: hard to understand or define

an elusive idea

elusively adverb

elusiveness noun