: tending to elude: such as
a
: tending to evade grasp or pursuit
elusive prey
b
: hard to comprehend or define
c
: hard to isolate or identify
elusively
adverb
elusiveness
noun
Examples of elusive in a Sentence
But for all their influence, D.C. lobbyists have failed to attain one elusive goal: public respect.
—
Franklin Foer, New Republic, 25 Mar. 2002
In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an elusive one.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times, 4 Apr. 1998
His meanings have been known to be elusive, which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers.
—Sarah Vowell, GQ, November 1998
This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle.
—Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993
The truth may prove elusive.
the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants
Franklin Foer, New Republic, 25 Mar. 2002
In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an elusive one.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times, 4 Apr. 1998
His meanings have been known to be elusive, which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers.
—Sarah Vowell, GQ, November 1998
This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle.
—Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993
The truth may prove elusive.
the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants
Recent Examples on the Web
This spotting confirms to conservationists that the elusive species is breeding successfully in southern Thailand.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Generational wealth is elusive for many, in fact, just getting by is the order of the day for most.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
Banksy is an elusive street artist whose identity has not been confirmed.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
The elusive street artist posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account on Monday, hours after its appearance on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London, sparked speculation over whether Banksy was behind it.
—CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
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Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Generational wealth is elusive for many, in fact, just getting by is the order of the day for most.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
Banksy is an elusive street artist whose identity has not been confirmed.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
The elusive street artist posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account on Monday, hours after its appearance on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London, sparked speculation over whether Banksy was behind it.
—CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elusive. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
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