: 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
In dining, some restaurants are already using AI and other personalization and machine learning to help manage a busy service and book those elusive reservations.
—Bon Appétit, 5 Feb. 2025
Here’s looking at shrew: How college students got first-ever photos of an elusive California mammal.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Another win Friday — that elusive third-straight — could eliminate any chance of a Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, or Nikola Vučević — any player that would cost a first-round pick in a trade — coming to the Dubs.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Yet clarity on the optimal interplay between these compounds remains elusive.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for elusive 
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Bon Appétit, 5 Feb. 2025
Here’s looking at shrew: How college students got first-ever photos of an elusive California mammal.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Another win Friday — that elusive third-straight — could eliminate any chance of a Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, or Nikola Vučević — any player that would cost a first-round pick in a trade — coming to the Dubs.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Yet clarity on the optimal interplay between these compounds remains elusive.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for elusive
Articles Related to elusive
Dictionary Entries Near elusive
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elusive. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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