eluding
Staying just ahead
Eluding is avoiding or escaping, especially through quickness or cleverness.
A fugitive eludes capture; a name eludes you when you can't quite remember it.
The answer kept eluding me.
What eludes someone stays just out of reach—whether physically, mentally, or figuratively.
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- circumventingAvoiding by going around
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- shunningDeliberately avoiding someone
bypassing · eschewing · deflecting · parrying · averting · ducking · skirting · evasion
Rapid escape from danger
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- slipping awayGradually leaving or diminishing
absconding · bolting · extricating · breaking free · liberation · jailbreak · dash · sprint
Rapid following of quarry
- manhuntSearch for a suspect
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- hunterPursuer of prey
- trackerOne who follows trails
pursuer · hounding · dragnet · search · outpacing · outfoxing · cat-and-mouse · quarry
Deceptive mock attack
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- diversionRedirection of attention
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
decoy · ruse · bluff · juking · guile · artifice · craftiness · sleight
Something hard to fathom
- incomprehensibleImpossible to understand
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- crypticObscure in meaning
inexplicable · unfathomable · inscrutable · impenetrable · obscure · intangible · ineffable · ungraspable
Moving to avoid detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- incognitoWith identity concealed
shadowing · ghosting · slinking · creeping · undetected · invisible · silent · hidden
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- circumventingAvoiding by going around
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
shunning · bypassing · eschewing · deflecting · parrying · averting · ducking · skirting · evasion · shaking off
fleeing
Rapid escape from danger
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
slipping away · absconding · bolting · extricating · breaking free · liberation · jailbreak · dash · sprint · scramble
chase
Rapid following of quarry
tracker · pursuer · hounding · dragnet · search · outpacing · outfoxing · cat-and-mouse · quarry · prey
feint
Deceptive mock attack
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- diversionRedirection of attention
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
subterfuge · decoy · ruse · bluff · juking · guile · artifice · craftiness · sleight · camouflage
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- incomprehensibleImpossible to understand
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
cryptic · inexplicable · unfathomable · inscrutable · impenetrable · obscure · intangible · ineffable · ungraspable · beyond reach
sneaking
Moving to avoid detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
incognito · shadowing · ghosting · slinking · creeping · undetected · invisible · silent · hidden · unseen
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- stealthsneak, ninja, creep, spy, skulk
- traffic violationsDUI, DWI, speeding, drunk driving, red light running
- fugitivesfugitive, escapee, escaped convict, runaway, prison escapee
- auto crimescar theft, auto theft, carjacking, grand theft auto, stolen car
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
eludingconfronting
Addressing directly
facing · engaging · encountering · meeting · addressing
eludinggetting caught
surrendering · yielding · submitting · succumbing · falling into
eludinggrasping
Greedy for wealth
comprehending · understanding · apprehending · fathoming · getting