illusive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'illusive' is correct and usable in written English.
It means something that is deceptive or illusory. Example: The promise of quick and easy weight loss through fad diets can be illusive, as they often do not result in long-term success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's right: for Burke, truths are illusive and illusions are, in an important sense, true.

The Economist

The illusive nature of the victims meant that the military controlled their prisoners' fate even in death, Mr Finchelstein says.Videla retired in 1981.

The Economist

The poor tax-collectors chasing after the illusive profit statement remind me of those silly fellows in pith helmets chasing butterflies.

The Economist

But the killer applications for personal robots remain as illusive as ever.With no proprietary secrets to lose, and everything to gain from having as many teams as possible use its open-source software, Willow Garage is giving away 11 of its $400,000 PR2 robots and software development kits to research groups around the world for them to develop applications of their own.

The Economist

However, while price and performance can be measured directly, quality is a far more illusive attribute.

The Economist

García Lorca's poetry is often couched in illusive symbolism and, like his plays, draws heavily on the folklore of his native Andalusia and especially on that of the Roma (Gypsies), or Gitanos.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Chadwick's sculptures are often illusive hybrids suggesting alternately impotent De Chirico-like figures or animated geological forms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Off it, he has good timing with bursts into the box, has illusive movement and spots spaces incredibly well.

Independent

Niang is mature in his decision making, often making dangerous runs in behind defenders while also possessing illusive movement.

Independent

"Throughout this litigation, the details of the execution protocol have been illusive at best," the judge wrote.

Independent

Strong, powerful and enthusiastic in duels with defenders, he's only five foot seven inches tall, but is surprisingly illusive and dominant in the air.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "illusive" when you want to describe something that gives a false impression or is deceptive in nature.

Common error

Avoid using "illusive" when you mean "elusive". "Illusive" refers to something deceptive or not real, while "elusive" refers to something difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "illusive" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something deceptive, misleading, or based on illusion. Ludwig provides examples where "illusive" describes goals, natures, and qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Wiki

8%

Academia

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "illusive" describes something deceptive or unreal. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is correct and usable in written English. It is often confused with "elusive", but the former indicates deception while the latter suggests something hard to find. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as encyclopedias, as indicated by the Ludwig examples. Be mindful to use "illusive" when the intended meaning involves a false impression or deception, and consider alternatives like "illusory" or "deceptive" to best fit the context. Remember that its communicative power lies in its ability to cast doubt on the genuineness of a concept or object.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illusory

Highlights the unreal or dreamlike nature of something.

elusive

Indicates something difficult to catch or define.

deceptive

Emphasizes the misleading quality of something.

misleading

Focuses on the act of guiding someone in the wrong direction.

specious

Emphasizes the deceptive appearance of truth or validity.

unreal

Highlights the lack of authenticity or genuineness.

imaginary

Indicates something that exists only in the mind.

evanescent

Suggests something that quickly fades or disappears.

fanciful

Implies something imaginative and unrealistic.

apparent

Highlights the surface-level appearance that may differ from reality.

FAQs

How to use "illusive" in a sentence?

Use "illusive" to describe something that is deceptive or gives a false impression, such as "The promise of quick riches proved to be "illusive"."

What can I say instead of "illusive"?

You can use alternatives like "illusory", "deceptive", or "misleading" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "illusive" or "elusive"?

"Illusive" means deceptive or not real, while "elusive" means difficult to find or catch. Choose the word that best fits the meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "illusive" and "illusory"?

While both words relate to illusions, ""illusive"" often implies a deliberate attempt to deceive, while "illusory" can simply refer to something that is not as it appears.