elusive
adjective
eluding or failing to allow for or accommodate a clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define.
elusiveness
-
a word derived from
elusive.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And yet Petzold’s gift for seasoning truth with elusiveness is fully in force, giving this airy yet ghost-charged rescue story a welcome intelligence to go with its unforced emotion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
It played into Mr. Bird’s elusiveness, his mystery, his aversion to selling himself, his feat of somehow being both the player of his generation and a complete unknown—a Bob Dylan in sneakers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
His elusiveness even sparked theories about whether he existed.
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2025
Plus, in the spring game, Parker broke free for a 42-yard touchdown rush, evading tacklers with the speed and elusiveness that helped him stand out this spring.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2024
It was difficult to be specific when the core of a man’s character was elusiveness.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
