elusive

Examples

• All

• So progress is a very elusive concept.

• But I think, like a lot of mixed kids, the notion of home was an elusive concept.

• - In search of the elusive signal.

  Synecdoche, New York (2008)

• A little wisdom, a bit of insight, and a version of that most elusive thing, the truth.

• Its precise subject has remained elusive; however, behind the barrier of its given title.

  Academic text (1992)

• Throughout its history, the professional identity of school counselors has been an elusive and fluid construct.

  Academic text (2013)

• The concept of maturity has always been elusive for me, its shifty dimensions difficult to absorb.

  Fiction book (1996)

• What is it that is so gripping yet analytically elusive about this observation?

  Academic text (2008)

• Analyzing responses can yield data about how to foster the elusive goals of motivation and engagement.

  Academic text (2012)

• Understanding the meaning of happiness can often be quite elusive for many people.

Synonyms

D

difficult

vselusive

∞ 1.6

Not easy to do or understand

is specifically hard to define or describe mentally rather than just hard

T

tough

vselusive

∞ 2.6

Hard to do or understand and needing a lot of effort

focuses on mental grasp difficulty rather than general effort

M

mysterious

vselusive

498 5.1

Hard to understand or explain because it seems strange

is mentally hard to grasp without the strong puzzling mood

S

subtle

vselusive

276 6.0

Not easy to notice or understand because it is small

is hard to grasp mentally but may be more general than subtlety

C

confusing

vselusive

276 3.2

Hard to understand and makes people feel unsure

is difficult to define rather than only causing momentary confusion

I

incomprehensible

vselusive

46 8.8

Difficult or impossible to understand

is difficult to define or describe but may be partly understood

P

puzzling

vselusive

42 4.6

Hard to understand or explain

is hard to define or describe without necessarily seeming odd

O

obscure

vselusive

28 8.2

Hard to understand because it is unclear or complex

is mentally hard to grasp while this is more about clarity

E

enigmatic

vselusive

27 8.1

Hard to understand and often seems mysterious

is hard to define but not always intentionally puzzling

B

baffling

vselusive

27 6.4

Hard to understand and causing confusion

is mentally hard to grasp but may not cause active bafflement

U

unexplainable

vselusive

19 7.0

Something people cannot understand or find a clear reason for

is simply hard to understand rather than wholly unaccountable

I

impenetrable

vselusive

14 8.3

Very hard to understand

is hard to grasp mentally but may still allow some partial sense

I

inscrutable

vselusive

12 8.9

Hard to understand because it shows no clear meaning or feeling

is merely hard to grasp rather than totally unfathomable

H

hard to follow

vselusive

9 6.4

Difficult to understand

is hard to grasp mentally but can be clearer than unknowable cases

I

indefinable

vselusive

4 6.9

Hard to describe or explain in words

is often vague but not always beyond exact description

I

inexpressible

vselusive

3 7.5

A feeling so strong that you cannot describe it in words

is difficult to describe but may still be put into words

A

abstruse

vselusive

• Formal

3 9.9

Hard to understand because it is very complex

is hard to define or describe even without deep complexity

U

undefinable

vselusive

3 6.8

Hard to describe exactly in words

is mentally hard to grasp yet can sometimes be roughly defined

P

problematical

vselusive

2 8.1

Hard to understand or deal with

is difficult to define rather than merely problem-filled

K

knotty

vselusive

1 8.1

Difficult to solve or understand, often about problems

is hard to grasp mentally but may not be structurally complex

U

unnamable

vselusive

1 7.7

Too hard to describe in words

is hard to grasp mentally but not always utterly nameless

U

ungettable

vselusive

1 9.6

Hard or impossible to understand

is mentally hard to grasp though sometimes attainable with thought

E

enigmatical

vselusive

1 9.3

Hard to understand, like a puzzle

is difficult to describe but may lack a secretive tone

U

uninterpretable

vselusive

1 8.2

Not possible to understand or explain

is difficult to describe but sometimes yields partial sense

I

incognoscible

vselusive

• Archaic

9.9

Not possible for people to know or understand

is difficult to grasp mentally but not necessarily unknowable

U

unperceivable

vselusive

9.1

Too small, slow, or quiet for people to notice

is hard to mentally grasp rather than physically unnoticeable

U

umbrous

vselusive

• Archaic

9.9

Hard to understand because it is mysterious and unclear

is difficult to describe yet may not feel shadowy

C

cryptical

vselusive

• Archaic

9.9

Hard to understand because it has a hidden meaning

is hard to describe but not necessarily secretive or hidden

U

unscannable

vselusive

8.4

Difficult to read from a person's face or behavior

is hard to grasp mentally in general, not only facial cues

I

inapprehensible

vselusive

9.9

Hard to understand or explain

is often difficult to define but can be less absolute than impossible

A

as elusive as the underpants gnome

vselusive

• Informal

9.9

Describes something very hard to understand or find in a joking way

is a straightforward mental difficulty without humorous intent

Antonyms

C

clear

∞ 1.0

Easy to understand and not confusing

D

definite

155 1.6

Clearly stated or decided and not vague

Idioms

A

as elusive as the underpants gnome

• Informal

9.9

Describes something very hard to understand or find in a joking way

How Difficult

inscrutable

12 8.9

mysterious

498 5.1

obscure

20 6.6

elusive

52 7.0

ambiguous

68 6.3

vague

230 4.6

unclear

207 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology