elusive

/ɪˈluːsɪv/

Say it: uh-LOO-siv

1. adjective Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
After weeks of searching, the team finally photographed the elusive snow leopard.
2. adjective Difficult to remember or recall.
The name of the actor was elusive, hovering just at the edge of his memory.
3. adjective Difficult to understand or define clearly.
She tried to explain the elusive concept of consciousness to the students.

📖 Seen in the wild

The elusive suspect managed to escape the police for weeks.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ elusive in a sentence

For many, a true work-life balance remains an elusive goal.
The police are still searching for the elusive suspect who has evaded capture for months.
The solution to the problem proved elusive, despite hours of brainstorming.
He was a charming but elusive man, never staying in one place or relationship for long.
The elusive feeling of peace she had been seeking finally settled over her as she watched the sunset.
Scientists are one step closer to understanding the elusive nature of dark matter.
The melody was elusive, a half-remembered tune from a distant childhood.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

evasive slippery fleeting intangible fugitive transient ephemeral hard to pin down

evasive · implies a deliberate attempt to avoid something, especially a question.

slippery · suggests something hard to hold onto, often with a hint of untrustworthiness.

fleeting · emphasizes that something disappears very quickly.

intangible · refers to something that cannot be physically touched, like a concept or feeling.

Opposites: accessible, obtainable, common, obvious, definite

🌱 Where it comes from

Elusive slipped into English from the Latin word 'eludere', which means 'to evade or frustrate'. This Latin verb is built from 'e-', meaning 'out of' or 'away', and 'ludere', 'to play'. So, at its root, something elusive is 'playing away' from you, cleverly dodging your attempts to grasp it.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

remain elusiveprove elusiveelusive conceptelusive goalelusive creatureelusive suspect

While both 'elusive' and 'evasive' relate to avoidance, they are not interchangeable. 'Elusive' describes something that is inherently hard to grasp, find, or define. A concept, a memory, or a shy animal can be elusive. 'Evasive' almost always implies a conscious, deliberate act of dodging, especially in communication. A person gives an evasive answer; they don't give an elusive answer.

Word family: elude, elusiveness

💬 Quick answers

What does elusive mean?

Elusive describes something that is difficult to find, catch, achieve, or remember. It can apply to physical things, abstract concepts, or even people.

What is the difference between elusive and evasive?

Elusive means something is hard to grasp due to its nature, like an elusive concept or animal. Evasive implies a deliberate act of avoidance, like giving an evasive answer to a direct question.

Can a person be described as elusive?

Yes, an elusive person is someone who is hard to get to know or pin down. They might avoid emotional intimacy, commitment, or being in one place for too long.

Is elusive a positive or negative word?

It's neutral but often implies a sense of frustration or desire for the thing that is hard to get. An elusive goal is something you want but can't achieve, while an elusive creature is something you want to see but can't find.

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