: 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
About 'The Legend of Ochi' In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy teenage farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as the Ochi.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 18 Apr. 2025
The families live a nomadic existence in search of agricultural work and in the hope of the elusive rain that will enable the growing of crops.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The game drives are also spectacular; my favorite moment was stalking leopards and identifying their elusive tracks in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
But an adult colossal squid remains elusive, using its sensitive vision to avoid anything that may pose a risk.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
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Devonne Goode, Parents, 18 Apr. 2025
The families live a nomadic existence in search of agricultural work and in the hope of the elusive rain that will enable the growing of crops.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The game drives are also spectacular; my favorite moment was stalking leopards and identifying their elusive tracks in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
But an adult colossal squid remains elusive, using its sensitive vision to avoid anything that may pose a risk.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elusive. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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