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
-
difficult to catch
an elusive thief
-
preferring or living in solitude and anonymity
-
difficult to remember
an elusive thought
Other Word Forms
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Hunger Games
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Things They Carried
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran are no closer to resolving their stalemate, and an agreement on shipping crude oil and crude products through the Strait of Hormuz remains elusive.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Ed gets swept up in her performative antics and elusive, larger-than-life allure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Disruption may be a dirty word in Japan, but without it the productivity gains the country needs could remain elusive.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Building good financial habits can feel intimidating and elusive, especially to younger adults.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Soon after returning to Berkeley, Alvarez decided to focus his research efforts on the lab’s most intriguing experimental project: the search for an elusive decay process known as K-capture.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
