elusive

adjective
UK: /ɪˈluːsɪv/
US: /ɪˈluːsɪv/

  1. Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

    1. The thief was too elusive for the police to catch him.
    2. A clear solution remains elusive despite our best efforts to resolve the problem.

  2. Difficult to remember or understand clearly.

    1. The details of that day are now elusive to me.
    2. The poem's meaning was elusive, prompting much discussion among the students.

  3. Used to describe a person who avoids being caught or found.

    1. He is an elusive figure, rarely seen in public.
    2. The spy remained elusive, skillfully avoiding detection for many years despite pursuit.

Synonyms

evasive slippery intangible fleeting transient untraceable

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "elusive" in English means: Difficult to find, catch, or achieve., Difficult to remember or understand clearly., Used to describe a person who avoids being caught or found..

The phonetic transcription of "elusive" is /ɪˈluːsɪv/ in British English and /ɪˈluːsɪv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "elusive": evasive, slippery, intangible, fleeting, transient, untraceable.

Example usage of "elusive": "The thief was too elusive for the police to catch him.". More examples on the page.