: 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
The lights can be elusive and even a full moon will diminish their brightness.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
However, if a deal proves elusive, the workers may escalate their opposition toward the company with additional strikes or other pressure tactics, the experts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2025, Anthony Gose will continue to try to find the strike zone and success that has been so elusive.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Justice will surely seem elusive after so much bloodshed, in a country where all sides claim their fallen as martyrs and blame the others for the carnage.
—Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elusive 
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Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
However, if a deal proves elusive, the workers may escalate their opposition toward the company with additional strikes or other pressure tactics, the experts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2025, Anthony Gose will continue to try to find the strike zone and success that has been so elusive.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Justice will surely seem elusive after so much bloodshed, in a country where all sides claim their fallen as martyrs and blame the others for the carnage.
—Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elusive
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Dictionary Entries Near elusive
Cite this Entry
“Elusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elusive. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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