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GRE vocabulary

elusive

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore E words

difficult to find, catch, grasp, or define

Word origin: From Latin eludere, to evade or elude.

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In a sentence

Elusive in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing elusive in a sentence.

A cure for the disease has proved frustratingly elusive.

A precise definition of consciousness has proved elusive despite decades of philosophical effort.

Synonyms
evasiveslipperyintangible
Antonyms
obviousaccessibletangible

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Verbal · Text Completion

The historian argued that the empire's collapse was not blank but the predictable outcome of decades of fiscal mismanagement that contemporaries had simply refused to acknowledge.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “elusive” well

Elusive describes something hard to catch, grasp, or pin down, whether a fugitive, a memory, or a concept. It blends the senses of slippery and difficult to define.

Common questions

Questions about “elusive”

Elusive (adjective) means difficult to find, catch, grasp, or define
Here is elusive used in an example sentence: "A cure for the disease has proved frustratingly elusive." Another example: "A precise definition of consciousness has proved elusive despite decades of philosophical effort."
Common synonyms for elusive include evasive, slippery, intangible.
Antonyms of elusive include obvious, accessible, tangible.
Clusters with evasive, slippery, and intangible in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms obvious, accessible, and tangible mark the contrast.
Yes. Elusive is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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