elusive
Americanadjective
-
eluding or failing to allow for or accommodate a clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define.
an elusive concept.
-
cleverly or skillfully evasive.
a fish too elusive to catch.
-
difficult to find.
hoping that elusive donors will finally contribute.
adjective
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difficult to catch
an elusive thief
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preferring or living in solitude and anonymity
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difficult to remember
an elusive thought
Other Word Forms
- elusively adverb
- elusiveness noun
- nonelusive adjective
- nonelusively adverb
- nonelusiveness noun
- unelusive adjective
- unelusively adverb
- unelusiveness noun
- unelusory adjective
Etymology
Origin of elusive
Compare meaning
How does elusive compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Things that are elusive are hard to find, pin down, or remember. They slip right out of your grasp. Ever try to catch a mouse? It's not easy, because mice are quick and elusive — they're tough to catch. Rabbits are speedy, so they're elusive too. Also, things that are tough to understand or describe are elusive — like the concepts of love and beauty. If you had an idea and then forgot it, the idea is elusive: it slipped away. Anything you can't get hold of, with your hands or with your brain, is elusive.
Vocabulary lists containing elusive
List 2
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The Hunger Games
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The Things They Carried
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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.
Iran had continued to pump crude to Asia since the start of the Middle East war, partly shielded by its elusive "dark fleet".
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
It takes an elusive alchemy of skill, knowledge and resources—with a dash of good luck—to introduce a groundbreaking, or even life-changing, invention to the world.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
He is a top-level coach, but his players are struggling for regular starts in England's top domestic league, so wins might remain elusive.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
After landing elusive Masters tickets, fans are treated to nostalgic food prices that include an iconic pimento cheese sandwich for $1.50.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
From time to time, I believe, he glimpsed that there was something—some elusive, elemental something—that made being out in the woods almost gratifying.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
