as in slippery
hard to find, capture, or isolate
the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elusive
Relief from the sun can be elusive on the outer courts in Flushing, but in Australia, many of the outer courts have covered seating areas.
—
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
But late Thursday, a vote on the compromise package remained elusive.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Cosmetics, bottling up exactly what makes the makeup brand’s Power Grip Primer, Halo Glow Liquid Filter, and Camo Collection special by turning those elusive qualities into a trio of eau de parfums.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Or can '21-'22 champ Wiedemann storm back and win its elusive third trophy?
—Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
But late Thursday, a vote on the compromise package remained elusive.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Cosmetics, bottling up exactly what makes the makeup brand’s Power Grip Primer, Halo Glow Liquid Filter, and Camo Collection special by turning those elusive qualities into a trio of eau de parfums.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Or can '21-'22 champ Wiedemann storm back and win its elusive third trophy?
—Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elusive
Adjective
-
When Heathcliff, a foundling, discovers that Cathy Earnshaw, the daughter of the impoverished Yorkshire lord who’s taken him in, has played a prank on him by putting eggs in his beds to be crushed, the boy plunges his fingers into the slippery puddle of yolk and albumen left behind.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
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The sneakers feature a streamlined design with bungee laces, sockliners, and a rubber outsole for optimal grip on slippery surfaces.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The vote means that all local sales, use and up to 8% in transient guest tax revenues generated on about 236 acres in west KCK around the stadium site will go toward paying off the stadium bond debt for up to 30 years.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2026
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The universe is a really big place, full of transient events that flash into existence and then fade away quickly.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cast members have been evasive to the point of parody.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
-
People will create companions based on a few traits and a general vibe – ‘supportive but evasive’, ‘confident but conflict avoidant’, ‘direct, honest, and smarter than me’.—
Shaw Walters,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elusive. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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