illusive

adjective

Definition of illusivenext
as in illusory

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illusive Four intrepid sleuths crack case after case with their unconventional investigative approaches — and illusive fashion, from distracting hats to reassuring blazers. — Fawnia Soo Hoo, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025 There is nothing wrong with wanting to be in communication or to lurk on their pages — especially when Venus retrograde links up with illusive Neptune on March 27th. — Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 27 Feb. 2025 The month wraps up with a very special cosmic event, as illusive and intuitive Neptune will leave your sign for the first time in nearly 15 years, ingressing into fiery Aries. — Nina Kahn, StyleCaster, 24 Feb. 2025 The ever-illusive Banksy, whose real identity remains a mystery, was not always so secretive, reveals the BBC. — The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusive
  1. illusory
  2. imaginary
  3. delusive
  4. deceptive
  5. obvious
  6. manifest
  7. misleading
  8. delusory
Adjective
  • Thus, if none of the three components of time exist, then there is nothing left, leaving the whole of time as illusory!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The apparently illusory swings show the difficulty of accurately counting homeless people in the expanse of north Los Angeles County.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of illusory
Adjective
  • Where teams already afforded every advantage are now given the gift of imaginary time.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The equinox occurs when the sun’s center passes through the imaginary line from the north to the south.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of imaginary
Adjective
  • This isn’t callousness or delusive optimism but, rather, a rebellion against the suffocating expectation that the elderly have foreclosed the possibility of joy.
    — Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024
  • To separate art from its historical framework is futile, and to reject it in an effort to censor past violence is a delusive act of virtue signaling.
    — WSJ, WSJ, 5 July 2022
Definition of delusive
Adjective
  • López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • For all his obvious qualities in attack, Ruiz also praises Kvaratskhelia’s defensive work.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Jacob Klein, Anthropic’s head of threat intelligence, told The New York Times that the situation rarely involves obvious declarations of malicious intent.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Two years later, as massive success seemed like the Eagles’ manifest destiny, that tandem cut their bandmates out of a publishing deal, setting themselves up with a never-ending sinecure but setting their original quartet up to crumble.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The books’ capacious geography felt like a girlish form of manifest destiny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of manifest
Adjective
  • A matter of distance and brightness The stars that compose the Triangle — Vega, Altair, and Deneb — lie at very unequal distances from us, so their apparent brightness can give a misleading impression of their true luminosity.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Publishers don’t want irrelevant or misleading ads to appear on their media sources.
    — Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of misleading
Adjective
  • That is delusory of course, but it can be fashioned into a victory claim that might well be readily embraced by war-weary and war-wary Russians in the public and among the elite.
    — John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022
Definition of delusory

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illusions
illusive
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Cite this Entry

“Illusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusive. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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