as in slippery
hard to find, capture, or isolate
the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants
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Recent Examples of elusive
But now Wiles — competing in her third Olympics — finally has that elusive medal.
—
Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
First, the goal of leading an economically secure life in exchange for hard work has become more elusive.
—Mark Robert Rank, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
But beyond that, unity has proved elusive.
—Jacqueline Charles Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
In the early 1980s physicists began planning for what would eventually become RHIC—a way to recreate that plasma and then hopefully settle the proton crises and pin down the most elusive force of nature.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
First, the goal of leading an economically secure life in exchange for hard work has become more elusive.
—Mark Robert Rank, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
But beyond that, unity has proved elusive.
—Jacqueline Charles Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
In the early 1980s physicists began planning for what would eventually become RHIC—a way to recreate that plasma and then hopefully settle the proton crises and pin down the most elusive force of nature.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elusive
Adjective
-
When Heathcliff, a foundling, discovers that Cathy Earnshaw, the daughter of the impoverished Yorkshire lord who’s taken him in, has played a prank on him by putting eggs in his beds to be crushed, the boy plunges his fingers into the slippery puddle of yolk and albumen left behind.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
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The sneakers feature a streamlined design with bungee laces, sockliners, and a rubber outsole for optimal grip on slippery surfaces.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The ballot measure advanced on Tuesday suggests a temporary 2% increase to the city’s 14% transient occupancy tax — often called a bed or hotel tax — dropping to a permanent post-Games 1% increase starting in 2029.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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After gauging voter interest in a variety of tax or bond measures, San Jose will pursue a 2% increase in transient occupancy taxes, which city staff says could generate approximately $10 million in annual revenue without reducing the competitiveness of its lodging industry.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Three minutes of comedy chasing and evasive action ensued before play resumed, only for the four-legged fiend to return to wreak more havoc than the home attack had previously shown.—
Craig Chisnall,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Cast members have been evasive to the point of parody.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elusive. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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