elusive

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ˈlü-ziv

: 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

Synonyms of elusive

• slippery
• transient
• evasive

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Barhom and Pérez Biscayart also star as the elusive Brigadier and Salese. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

When breakthroughs are elusive, pursuing incremental gains and the steady destruction of enemy capacity becomes attractive. — Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

The other is to search for an elusive storytelling unicorn and attach a $250,000 salary to the problem. — Andrey Insarov, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Patrick Mahomes’s season-ending injury last December opened the door for long-time rivals like Lamar Jackson and his Ravens and Josh Allen and his Bills to finally get over the hump and secure those elusive Lombardi Trophies. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin ēlūsus, past participle of ēlūdere "to trick, avoid, elude" + -ive

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

elusive

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

1

: hard to find or capture : evasive

elusive prey

2

: hard to understand or define

an elusive idea

elusively adverb

elusiveness noun