: 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
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
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
Rare and Special Finds Some treasures are more elusive, but that’s part of the thrill.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
With only five suites, the property feels intentionally elusive.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
Restrictive Saturn unites with elusive Neptune in your 8th House of Shared Resources, asking you to firm up boundaries around money and closeness.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Forging a broad coalition across these tendencies seems like an obvious necessity but has so far proved elusive.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
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Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
With only five suites, the property feels intentionally elusive.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
Restrictive Saturn unites with elusive Neptune in your 8th House of Shared Resources, asking you to firm up boundaries around money and closeness.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Forging a broad coalition across these tendencies seems like an obvious necessity but has so far proved elusive.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elusive. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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