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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elusive
But meet-cutes had been elusive.
—
Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Slang has originated in the Black community for decades, though etymologies are inherently elusive.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
For now, the map as is puts one of the universe’s most elusive sculptors starkly in view.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 Jan. 2026
The chatter around the Tampa Bay Rays and their ever-elusive new baseball stadium has taken on an all-too-familiar rhythm — one that sports fans, politicians and taxpayers across the country have heard before.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Slang has originated in the Black community for decades, though etymologies are inherently elusive.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
For now, the map as is puts one of the universe’s most elusive sculptors starkly in view.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 Jan. 2026
The chatter around the Tampa Bay Rays and their ever-elusive new baseball stadium has taken on an all-too-familiar rhythm — one that sports fans, politicians and taxpayers across the country have heard before.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elusive
Adjective
-
One of the challenges in living in the historic district of Manayunk during a snowstorm is not only the hills, but the brick streets that residents said make things more slippery.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These boat shoes have a complex rubber sole with a lot of surface area with grip—essential when walking a sometimes-slippery gangway.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Erica Texeira, director of social and youth services for the town of Wethersfield, said more of the transient population from Hartford comes into the town in need of services and that the town does not have a line item budget dedicated to helping with the unhoused.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Even by the transient nature of that position at Newcastle, Lawrence’s tenure was particularly short.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Air travelers have already encountered near misses, such as when a test flight of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle last year scattered debris across a swath of the Caribbean and forced aircraft to take evasive action.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elusive. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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