illusive

[ih-loo-siv]

See more synonyms for illusive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

illusory.

Origin of illusive

First recorded in 1670–80; illus(ory) + -ive

Related formsil·lu·sive·ly, adverbil·lu·sive·ness, nounnon·il·lu·sive, adjectivenon·il·lu·sive·ly, adverbnon·il·lu·sive·ness, nounun·il·lu·sive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for illusive

apparent, chimerical, deceitful, delusive, fake, illusory, imaginary, misleading, mocking, seeming, sham, false, unread

Examples from the Web for illusive

Contemporary Examples of illusive

Bragman says Johnson has that illusive “it” factor that everyone wants.
The Fabulous Life of EJ Johnson, the Stylish Son of the Lakers Legend
Itay Hod
June 12, 2014

Historical Examples of illusive

Or was this only an illusive colour thrown on her skin by the red firelight?
Green Mansions
W. H. Hudson
We deal not so much with weights and measures as with illusive inaccuracies.
The Blue Wall
Richard Washburn Child
The thing was too vague and illusive to become a purpose at all.
Shapes that Haunt the Dusk
Various
Oratory is as stealthy and as illusive as a weazel at night.
The Jucklins
Opie Read
It had come back, but now there was a change—mysterious, illusive.
The Octopus
Frank Norris

Word Origin and History for illusive

adj.

"deceptive, illusory," formed in English 1670s, from stem of illusion + -ive; cf. also illusory.