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
An elusive and endangered predator was recently spotted in Chile, delighting conservation officials.
—
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Photo: Equity Residential Getting a good deal on a two-bedroom — the ideal apartment size for someone who needs a roommate or is having a kid — has always been somewhat elusive.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 May 2025
Thus far, success has been elusive; while Ukrainian and Russian officials met this month for the first time in more than three years, no concrete outcomes were reached outside of a large prisoner exchange.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Wildlife officials also note that black bears are typically elusive and tend to avoid humans unless they have been exposed to sources of human food.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Photo: Equity Residential Getting a good deal on a two-bedroom — the ideal apartment size for someone who needs a roommate or is having a kid — has always been somewhat elusive.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 May 2025
Thus far, success has been elusive; while Ukrainian and Russian officials met this month for the first time in more than three years, no concrete outcomes were reached outside of a large prisoner exchange.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Wildlife officials also note that black bears are typically elusive and tend to avoid humans unless they have been exposed to sources of human food.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elusive
Adjective
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Then there’s Adam’s cravat-wearing boss, played by an equally slippery Matthew Modine.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
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There in the snow, she’s tasked to swing heavy steel hooks on slippery floors and wield an ice skate like a knife.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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And so happiness by nature is meant to be transient.—
Jess Cording,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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The Pacific Northwest has long had some of the highest cremation rates in the country, in part because its residents tend to be less religious and more transient.—
Susan Shain,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Rogers is naturally bigger than your average player but felt there was scope for improvement in shimmying out of danger and being more evasive against compact teams.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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By leaning on legal technicalities, the Council risks appearing evasive, avoiding a clear position on an issue that deeply concerns our constituents.—
Erin Murphy,
Boston Herald,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elusive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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