elusive
7 synonyms for elusive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use elusive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
elusive answer
remain elusive
elusive creature
Etymology
From Latin elusus, the past participle of eludere, "to dodge or trick" — the same root as "elude".
Full origin of elusive →Frequently asked questions
What does “elusive” mean?
The word “elusive” means hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand. In plain terms, slippery in a figurative sense: something that keeps escaping your grasp, whether it's an animal, an idea, or a person.
How do you pronounce “elusive”?
“Elusive” is pronounced ih-LOO-sihv (/ɪˈl(j)u.sɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “elusive” in a sentence?
Here is “elusive” used in a sentence: “The elusive snow leopard is rarely photographed in the wild.”
What is another word for “elusive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “elusive” include elusory.
What part of speech is “elusive”?
“Elusive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “elusive” come from?
The word “elusive” comes from Latin. From Latin elusus, the past participle of eludere, "to dodge or trick" — the same root as "elude".
Is “elusive” a common word?
“Elusive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “elusive” have?
“Elusive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand.
