illusive
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for illusive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Based on or producing an illusion; seeming real but in fact deceptive.
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.
Antonyms
How to use illusive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
illusive hope
illusive sense of safety
illusive gains
Formal and rather literary; illusory is the standard everyday equivalent.
Etymology
From Latin illudere 'to mock or play upon', the same root that gives illusion.
Full origin of illusive →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between illusive and elusive?
Illusive means deceptive — it relates to illusion, to something that is not what it appears. Elusive means hard to catch, find or pin down. A profit can be illusive because the figures mislead, and elusive because you never manage to make one.
Is illusive the same as illusory?
They share a meaning, but illusory is far more common in modern edited English and is usually the safer choice. Many editors treat illusive as a literary variant, and some readers will assume you meant elusive.
