illusive
Not what appears
Illusive means deceptive or based on illusion—something that misleads or isn't what it appears to be: an illusive promise of wealth, illusive hopes.
The word overlaps significantly with illusory, which is more common.
Illusive is often confused with elusive (hard to catch or define), though careful writers distinguish them: illusive things deceive; elusive things escape.
Visible supernatural manifestation
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- wraithSpectral apparition of someone
- ghostlyResembling a specter
spectral · ethereal · shadowy · vaporous · gossamer · translucent · insubstantial · haunting
Imaginative mental wandering
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
figment · vision · make-believe · fantastical · mythical · fictional · fabulous · imagined
Deliberate deception or fraud
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- schemingCrafty and calculating
conniving · underhanded · crafty · cunning · guileful · artful · sly · wily
Passing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- intangibleNot physically present
ungraspable · slippery · mercurial · volatile · unattainable · inaccessible · unreachable · fugitive
apparition
Visible supernatural manifestation
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- wraithSpectral apparition of someone
ghostly · spectral · ethereal · shadowy · vaporous · gossamer · translucent · insubstantial · haunting · otherworldly
fantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
chimera · figment · vision · make-believe · fantastical · mythical · fictional · fabulous · imagined · unreal
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
scheming · conniving · underhanded · crafty · cunning · guileful · artful · sly · wily · beguiling
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
intangible · ungraspable · slippery · mercurial · volatile · unattainable · inaccessible · unreachable · fugitive · evasive
illusivecertain
Free from doubt
sure · reliable · dependable · trustworthy · definite
- optical illusionMisleading visual perception
- shattered illusions
- no illusions
- visual illusionMisperceived sensory input
- stage illusionsPerformed deceptions before audiences
- grand illusion