highly elusive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly elusive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to find, catch, or achieve, often implying a sense of mystery or challenge. Example: "The truth behind the legend remained highly elusive, leaving many to speculate about its origins."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The snow leopard is the holy grail of wildlife sightings: rare, beautiful and highly elusive.

The Guardian - Travel

All through his career, Dylan has been a highly elusive figure.

The New Yorker

But they are not arbiters of scientific truth (something that is, in any case, highly elusive).

The New York Times

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is highly elusive, rare species, critically threatened with extinction worldwide.

Biological Conservation

In this episode, Part 2 of our look at the highly elusive and much reviled Classic Moving Services.

The New York Times

Although RNA is apparently a simple molecule, the ways in which it performs many of its functions have remained highly elusive for decades.

Trends in Biotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Albanian immigrants in Greece comprise one such highly mobile, elusive population.

BMC Health Services Research

Firms that want to attract somewhat elusive highly skilled and highly desirable professionals (a "purple squirrel" or "unicorn" in HR circles) need to get serious about getting pay right.

Harvard Business Review

Brand names in general have been getting less specific and more suggestive, as marketers chase after the elusive, highly profitable conglomeration of ideas, sensations and associations that add up to an image.

The New York Times - Food

For one thing, this film has at its center an elusive, highly mannered performance that appears to belong, as much as the vintage roadsters and ice-cream suits, to a vanished era.

The New York Times

Legally killed game, like the highly coveted but elusive white-tail mule deer, can fetch anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, but others can go for around $100,000, Mr. Pollard said.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing intangible concepts like "truth" or "understanding", using "highly elusive" can effectively convey the difficulty in fully comprehending them. For example, "The real reasons behind the decision were "highly elusive", making it difficult to analyze."

Common error

Avoid using "highly elusive" when describing something that is simply lost or misplaced. This phrase implies a deeper level of difficulty and mystery. For instance, saying "My keys are "highly elusive"" is an overstatement; "missing" or "misplaced" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly elusive" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier. It intensifies the adjective "elusive", describing a noun as being particularly difficult to find, catch, understand, or achieve. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is used to describe entities or concepts that are not easily accessible or comprehensible.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

48%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly elusive" is a valid and common expression used to intensify the adjective "elusive", conveying a strong sense of difficulty in finding, catching, understanding, or achieving something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and usability in English. While appropriate for various contexts, it is most frequently found in Science and News & Media and should be used judiciously to avoid overstatement. Its authoritative usage is confirmed by sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. When writing, it's important to consider synonyms like "extremely difficult to find" or "difficult to pin down" for variety and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult to find

Emphasizes the difficulty in locating something, focusing on the act of finding.

very hard to grasp

Focuses on the difficulty of understanding or comprehending something.

nearly impossible to attain

Highlights the difficulty in achieving or obtaining something.

difficult to pin down

Indicates the challenge of defining or specifying something precisely.

remarkably hard to detect

Stresses the difficulty in noticing or perceiving something.

exceptionally hard to come by

Focuses on the rarity and difficulty of acquiring something.

almost impossible to track

Highlights the challenge of following or monitoring something's movement or progress.

not easily discovered

Emphasizes that the subject is hidden or difficult to unearth.

challenging to secure

Focuses on the difficulty of protecting or obtaining something safely and reliably.

prohibitively difficult to obtain

Highlights the extreme difficulty in acquiring something, often due to obstacles or restrictions.

FAQs

How can I use "highly elusive" in a sentence?

You can use "highly elusive" to describe something that is difficult to find, catch, understand, or achieve. For example, "The snow leopard is a "highly elusive" creature" or "A "highly elusive" piece of evidence could solve the mystery".

What are some alternatives to "highly elusive"?

Some alternatives to "highly elusive" include "extremely difficult to find", "very hard to grasp", or "difficult to pin down" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "highly" with "elusive"?

While "elusive" already implies difficulty in finding or understanding, adding "highly" intensifies this quality, emphasizing just how challenging it is. This usage is grammatically sound and adds emphasis.

What's the difference between "elusive" and "highly elusive"?

"Elusive" means difficult to find, catch, or achieve. "Highly elusive" intensifies this meaning, suggesting that the subject is exceptionally difficult to locate or understand, bordering on impossible. The addition of "highly" increases the degree of difficulty involved.