: 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
Oh, so close to the elusive 2,000-yard mark, which has been accomplished only eight times in the history of the NFL.
—Jesse Reed, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
The episode details the long pursuit of an elusive killer by dogged Palm Beach County, Fla., investigators, which resulted in the arrest in 2017 of a suspect with a surprising connection to the victim.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Hailed as one of the greatest survival stories ever, it’s become the stuff of legends — and its ship an elusive treasure underneath the sea.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Zoom may have permanently altered in-person meetings and company travel, but it’s only increased the elusive desire to look good.
—thehustle.co, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elusive 
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Jesse Reed, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
The episode details the long pursuit of an elusive killer by dogged Palm Beach County, Fla., investigators, which resulted in the arrest in 2017 of a suspect with a surprising connection to the victim.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Hailed as one of the greatest survival stories ever, it’s become the stuff of legends — and its ship an elusive treasure underneath the sea.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Zoom may have permanently altered in-person meetings and company travel, but it’s only increased the elusive desire to look good.
—thehustle.co, 1 Nov. 2024
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 21 Nov. 2024.
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