Categories: GeneralSynonyms

ELUSIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ELUSIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “elusive”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “elusive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Elusive” are: baffling, knotty, problematic, problematical, tough, subtle, difficult to catch, difficult to find, difficult to track down

Elusive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Elusive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “elusive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

  • Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
  • Skillful at eluding capture.
  • Difficult to describe.
  • Skillful at eluding capture- David Kline.
  • Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe.
  • Difficult to remember.
  • Difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze.

Synonyms of "Elusive" as an adjective (9 Words)

bafflingImpossible to understand; perplexing.
A baffling problem.
difficult to catchHard to control.
difficult to findHard to control.
difficult to track downHard to control.
knottyExtremely difficult or complex.
A knotty problem.
problematicOpen to doubt or debate.
If you ever get married which seems to be extremely problematic.
problematicalMaking great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe.
The weighting of votes was particularly problematical.
subtleDifficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze.
The German plan was simple yet subtle.
toughPhysically toughened.
A tough character.

Usage Examples of "Elusive" as an adjective

  • A haunting elusive odor.
  • The elusive thought he had had moments before.
  • Success will become ever more elusive.
  • A cabal of conspirators, each more elusive than the archterrorist.
  • That elusive thing the soul.

Associations of "Elusive" (30 Words)

abstruseDifficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge.
An abstruse philosophical inquiry.
allusionThe practice of making allusions.
An allusion to Shakespeare.
artfulNot straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness- David Cannadine.
The artful dodger.
complexityA factor involved in a complicated process or situation.
He enjoyed the complexity of modern computers.
covertA flock of coots.
Covert actions by the CIA.
craftyInvolving the making of decorative objects and other things by hand.
A crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.
cunningMarked by skill in deception.
Plants have evolved cunning defences.
difficultNot easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure.
She had a difficult decision to make.
esotericIntended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
Esoteric philosophical debates.
esotericaEsoteric or highly specialized subjects or publications.
A professor of such esoterica as angelology and comparative shamanism.
furtiveSecret and sly or sordid- A.L.Guerard.
Furtive behavior.
guileSly or cunning intelligence.
He used all his guile and guts to free himself from the muddle he was in.
impalpableIncapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch- James Jeans.
An impalpable pulse.
ingeniousShowing inventiveness and skill.
His theory while ingenious is most assuredly incorrect.
innuendoAn indirect (and usually malicious) implication.
She s always making sly innuendoes.
insidiousProceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.
Glaucoma is an insidious disease.
intangibleAn intangible thing.
An intangible feeling of impending disaster.
manipulativeExercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation.
The early manipulative techniques of a three year old child.
nuanceGive nuances to.
Without understanding the finer nuances you can t enjoy the humor.
obscureMake obscure or unclear.
The distinction was obscured.
reconditeDifficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge.
The book is full of recondite information.
secretive(of a state or activity) characterized by the concealment of intentions and information.
She was very secretive about her past.
slyShowing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing.
A sly sip of water.
subtleCrafty; cunning.
The subtle fiend dissembled.
subtletyA subtle distinction, feature, or argument.
You had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew.
trickyMarked by skill in deception.
I wouldn t trust her she s tricky.
undercurrentA current below the surface of a fluid.
Racial undercurrents.
undertoneA subdued or muted tone of sound or colour.
Spoke in undertones.
vagueLacking clarity or distinctness.
Vague feelings of sadness.
wilySkilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.
A wily old attorney.
Alexei

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