But for all their influence, D.C. lobbyists have failed to attain one elusive goal: public respect. Franklin Foer, New Republic, 25 Mar. 2002In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an elusive one. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times, 4 Apr. 1998His meanings have been known to be elusive, which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers. Sarah Vowell, GQ, November 1998This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle. Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993 The truth may prove elusive. the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants See More
Recent Examples on the WebThe truth is that stability has been elusive on the meager wages of a single mom with a GED. Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Quarterback Jaren Hall is elusive and will test the Ducks defense.oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2022 In the dead of winter, when warmth is elusive and colds seem to be overtaking everyone, there’s nothing better. Samin Nosrat, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 But for too many of these victims, justice is elusive. Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 3 Aug. 2022 The shambles has also made justice elusive in Tarhuna, where leaders on both sides of Libya’s divide are implicated in the Kanis’ rise.New York Times, 31 July 2022 Webb will surely identify lots of new ones, including small Earthlike planets that so far have been elusive. Frank Wilczek, WSJ, 30 July 2022 Direct physical evidence of this technique has been elusive, but now a small pterosaur from the Jurassic rocks of Germany is helping solve the mystery. Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 In recent years, gun control activism has led to some changes to gun laws at the state level, but federal legislation has long been elusive.CBS News, 11 June 2022 See More
VERBS | ADVERBVERBS➤be, prove難以捉摸;證明難以理解◇Further movie roles have proved somewhat elusive for the young actor.對這個年輕演員來說,有深度的電影角色有些讓他難以把握。➤become變得難以捉摸▸➤remain一直難以把握ADVERB➤extremely, fairly, very, etc.極其/相當/非常難以捉摸◇a very elusive speaker一個非常難以捉摸的說話者➤highly十分難以捉摸➤ever向來極難找到的◇He was searching for the ever elusive 'perfect job'.他一直在尋找虛無縹緲的“完美工作”。➤strangely不可思議地難以找到◇A cure has proved strangely elusive.事實證明極難治瘉,令人不解。➤notoriously出了名地難以捉摸◇Truth is a notoriously elusive quality.真理是出了名地難以把握。➤frustratingly, maddeningly讓人沮喪地難以捉摸;讓人極端困惑◇The murderer remained frustratingly elusive.兇手仍然踪影難覓,讓人沮喪。