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elusive

Adjective

IPA /ɪˈluːsɪv/

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Meaning in plain English

Difficult to find, clearly understand or successfully achieve, even when someone keeps searching for it or working towards it.

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Pronunciation

elusive/ɪˈluːsɪv/

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You search carefully for the missing key
Every possible place brings no answer
The key remains unfound

Something elusive remains difficult to find, understand or achieve.

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Examples in context

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The missing key remained elusive despite our search through every room.
A reliable explanation for the results proved elusive.

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The missing key remained ________ despite our search through every room.

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elusive — Difficult to find, clearly understand or successfully achieve, even when someone keeps searching for it or working towards it.

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Difficult to find, clearly understand or successfully achieve, even when someone keeps searching for it or working towards it.

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Word origin

From Latin forms related to eludere, meaning evade, with the ending -ive.

Did you know?

Elusive can describe a person who is hard to find or a solution that is hard to achieve.

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