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
Oatmeal Cookie is one of the more straightforward flavors, pairing oatmeal and vanilla frosting, while Saturday Morning Cartoons captures the more elusive feeling with a combination of fruity cereal and cream.
—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Ever since Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen retired from acting, the former stars of Full House have become increasingly elusive, making the rare casual sighting of the sisters something of an event.
—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 June 2026
The results have often left me highly frustrated, but also have given me indescribable joy at the fact of having absorbed (although only partially, of course) some of the elusive beauty of those marvelous, magical, mysteriously alluring tongues.
—
Douglas Hofstadter,
Time,
30 June 2026
Until those issues are resolved by the Supreme Court or Congress, the promise of finality in tax administration remains elusive.
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Ever since Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen retired from acting, the former stars of Full House have become increasingly elusive, making the rare casual sighting of the sisters something of an event.
—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 June 2026
The results have often left me highly frustrated, but also have given me indescribable joy at the fact of having absorbed (although only partially, of course) some of the elusive beauty of those marvelous, magical, mysteriously alluring tongues.
—
Douglas Hofstadter,
Time,
30 June 2026
Until those issues are resolved by the Supreme Court or Congress, the promise of finality in tax administration remains elusive.
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elusive
Adjective
-
This episode is slippery, and things are spinning out of control.
-
The conditions were wet and and slippery at first, but the rain appears to have tapered off now.
Adjective
-
The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don't have enough woods to create a good habitat.
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The guest population is transient, with many checking in for short stays on their way in or out of town.
Adjective
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Investors hear evasive answers in earnings calls.
-
Whitehead, who’d praised Jenkins’s adaptation at the podium in Wyoming, was evasive when asked about Ross’s.
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elusive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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