elusive
Difficult to grasp
Elusive describes something difficult to catch, find, or pin down.
An elusive criminal evades capture.
An elusive answer stays just out of reach.
The word often suggests something that seems almost within grasp but slips away: Sleep proved elusive that night.
Elusive memories, meanings, or qualities resist clear definition or recall.
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
sly · cagey · wily · artful · tricky · dodging · sidestepping · deflecting
Puzzling and obscure
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
inexplicable · puzzling · perplexing · sphinxlike · arcane · occult · veiled · hidden
Not physically present
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- abstractCondensed version of text
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- incorporealNot made of matter
impalpable · insubstantial · ghostly · spectral · phantasmal · nebulous · wispy · dreamlike
Lasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
passing · brief · short-lived · impermanent · fugitive · vanishing · fading · transitory
Resisting exact explanation
- indescribableCannot be put into words
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
nebulous · indistinct · blurred · hazy · fuzzy · murky · clouded · imprecise
In short supply
- rareSeldom found or seen
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
exceptional · precious · singular · unique · limited · sporadic · intermittent · occasional
slippery
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
cunning · sly · cagey · wily · artful · tricky · dodging · sidestepping · deflecting · avoiding
enigmatic
Puzzling and obscure
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
unfathomable · inexplicable · puzzling · perplexing · sphinxlike · arcane · occult · veiled · hidden · secretive
intangible
Not physically present
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- abstractCondensed version of text
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
incorporeal · impalpable · insubstantial · ghostly · spectral · phantasmal · nebulous · wispy · dreamlike · illusory
ephemeral
Lasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
momentary · passing · brief · short-lived · impermanent · fugitive · vanishing · fading · transitory · slipping
indefinable
Resisting exact explanation
- indescribableCannot be put into words
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
ambiguous · nebulous · indistinct · blurred · hazy · fuzzy · murky · clouded · imprecise · unspecific
scarce
In short supply
- rareSeldom found or seen
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
sparse · exceptional · precious · singular · unique · limited · sporadic · intermittent · occasional · endangered
- mysteriousmysterious, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, obscure
- beyond reachunattainable, unreachable, inaccessible, out of bounds, impossible
- creature traitsclaws, fangs, horns, scales, talons
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- illusionsmirage, hallucination, afterimage, double vision, ghost image
- Mysticalethereal, otherworldly, supernatural, numinous, transcendent
elusiveattainable
Able to be reached
accessible · obtainable · reachable · available · catchable
elusiveclear
Without obstruction or fog
obvious · evident · plain · unambiguous · unmistakable
- elusive creatureHard-to-find animal