Elusiveness: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that is difficult to find, catch, or achieve, often emphasizing its mysterious or hard-to-grasp nature.

• The elusiveness of the rare butterfly has frustrated many collectors.
• Her elusiveness made her an enticing figure in the story.

Used to describe the quality of being deliberately vague or avoiding direct answers, often implying deceit or avoidance. It has a slightly negative connotation.

• Her evasiveness during the interview raised suspicion.
• His evasiveness about his whereabouts made people doubt his story.

Used to describe both physical slipperiness (like a slippery floor) and metaphorically, to describe someone who is difficult to deal with or trust due to their evasive or deceitful nature. It can have a negative connotation.

• The slipperiness of the roads made driving dangerous.
• His slipperiness in negotiations made him an unreliable partner.

Focuses on the quality of being elusive, similar to 'elusiveness,' but is less commonly used in everyday language.

• The elusivity of the solution made the problem even more challenging.
• Scientists were puzzled by the elusivity of the dark matter evidence.

Typically used to describe the act of avoiding or escaping, often in a skillful or clever manner. It's more about the act itself than the quality of being elusive.

• His elusion of the authorities for years astonished everyone.
• The elusion of difficult questions in the interview showed his cleverness.