Synonyms for elusive
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Baffling
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
The elusive criminal was arrested
Related words
- Word family
- elude
Example sentences
- tough Maybe it wouldn't be tough to do that by yourself.
- problematic For me, interpreting the question was problematic.
- baffling Do you remember that baffling murder case?
- subtle There was a subtle difference between their views.
- evasive Yanni didn't maintain eye contact and was evasive.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| elusive | rising | |
| tough | rising | |
| problematic | rising | |
| baffling | steady | |
| problematical | falling | |
| subtle | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- tough1
- 6 letters
- subtle2, knotty2
- 7 letters
- evasive3, elusory
- 8 letters
- slippery3, baffling3
- 10 letters
- impalpable
- 11 letters
- problematic4
- 13 letters
- problematical5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (subtle2 = 2 syllables).