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Elusive vs Unattainable - What's the difference?

elusive | unattainable |

As adjectives the difference between elusive and unattainable

is that elusive is while unattainable is impossible to attain or reach; inaccessible, unobtainable or unapproachable; unable to accomplish; beyond limit.

As a noun unattainable is

anything that cannot be attained.

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)

    unattainable

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Impossible to attain or reach; inaccessible, unobtainable or unapproachable; unable to accomplish; beyond limit.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything that cannot be attained.