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.

There are probably only two clubs in the Premier League who badly need an elite striker and might be in a position to offer Kane a place in the 2025-26 Champions League and a crack at winning the trophies that eluded him at Tottenham Hotspur. —

Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 By the numbers: One requirement that eluded Nashville in the past was its stock of hotel rooms. —

Nate Rau, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025 Rosa travelled north some twelve hundred miles, on foot and by bus, paying smugglers and eluding predators. —

Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 Agents are returning to a more traditional role tracking individuals and small groups trying to elude capture. —

Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for elude