elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd

eluded; eluding

Synonyms of elude next

transitive verb

: to avoid adroitly : evade

the mice eluded the traps

managed to elude capture

: to escape the perception, understanding, or grasp of

subtlety simply eludes them

victory continued to elude us

: defy sense 2

it eludes explanation

Choose the Right Synonym for elude

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of elude in a Sentence

The killer was able to elude the police. The killer has eluded capture. The cause of the disease continues to elude researchers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Physical evidence that ice sheets covered the interior of continents in warm equatorial regions had eluded scientists – until now. —

Liam Courtney-Davies, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024 Their reproductive organs have eluded researchers in countless dissections, and observing their mating behavior was impossible—until recently. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 Though Native American soldiers were being sent overseas to fight for freedom, that same freedom eluded them at home. —

Ashawnta Jackson, JSTOR Daily, 1 Nov. 2024 Most Popular Hugh Jackman’s wife had ‘suspicions’ about his Broadway co-star Sutton Foster: report A sophisticated heist crew traveled from West Hollywood to Seattle, stealing millions and eluding police. —

Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for elude