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Enigmatic vs Elusive - What's the difference?

enigmatic | elusive | Synonyms |

As adjectives the difference between enigmatic and elusive

is that enigmatic is pertaining to an enigma while elusive is evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.

enigmatic

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic) * (obsolete) * enigmatick (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Pertaining to an enigma.
  • Mysterious.
  • *
  • *:Serene, smiling, enigmatic , she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes. The clear light of the bright autumn morning had no terrors for youth and health like hers.
  • Defying description.
  • (variant) Enigmatical.

    • elusive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
    • The elusive criminal was arrested
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1910 , author=Jack London , title=Lost Face , chapter=6 citation , passage=Charley chased the elusive idea through all the nooks and crannies of his drowning consciousness.}}
  • Rarely seen.
  • *
  • Difficult to describe.
    • A precise definition of diarrhea is elusive (Robbin's pathology, 8th ed)

    Related terms

    * (l)