: 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
The return of an elusive, fan-favorite colorway of the Nike Air Max 95 is just around the corner and it’s already begun popping up at some retailers.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Jan. 2026
While modern biology has learned how to regulate average protein levels across cell populations, controlling the unpredictable behavior of individual cells has remained elusive.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The idea of controlling speech online has been elusive.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
With a defense that shut down Texas A&M in the CFP’s first round and has now humbled mighty Ohio State, the idea of a long-elusive sixth national championship is now within sight, within reach.
—Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
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Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Jan. 2026
While modern biology has learned how to regulate average protein levels across cell populations, controlling the unpredictable behavior of individual cells has remained elusive.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The idea of controlling speech online has been elusive.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
With a defense that shut down Texas A&M in the CFP’s first round and has now humbled mighty Ohio State, the idea of a long-elusive sixth national championship is now within sight, within reach.
—Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 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 7 Jan. 2026.
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