illusive

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪˈluːsɪv/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(i lo̅o̅siv)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
il•lu•sive  (i lo̅o̅siv),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. illusory.
  • illus(ory) + -ive 1670–80
il•lusive•ly, adv. 
il•lusive•ness, n. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
il•lu•so•ry /ɪˈlusəri, -zə-/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. causing or like an illusion; deceptive:illusory hopes of success.
il•lu•so•ri•ly /ɪˈlusərəli/USA pronunciation  adv. 
il•lu•so•ri•ness, n. [uncountable]See -lud-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
il•lu•so•ry  (i lo̅o̅sə rē, -zə-),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. causing illusion;
    deceptive;
    misleading.
  2. of the nature of an illusion;
    unreal.
  • Late Latin illūsōrius, equivalent. to illūd(ere) to mock, ridicule (see illusion) + -tōrius -tory1
  • 1590–1600
il•luso•ri•ly, adv. 
il•luso•ri•ness, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fallacious, specious, false.
    • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged imaginary; visionary, fancied.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
illusory / ɪˈluːsərɪ/, illusive / ɪˈluːsɪv/
  1. producing, produced by, or based on illusion; deceptive or unreal
ilˈlusorily, ilˈlusivelyilˈlusoriness, ilˈlusivenessUSAGE
Illusive is sometimes wrongly used where elusive is meant: they fought hard, but victory remained elusive (not illusive)
'illusive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "illusive" in the title:


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