as in reference
a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
The lyrics contain biblical allusions.
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Recent Examples of allusion
Van Beirendonck gravitates toward loud prints in bright colors and allusions to BDSM, whereas Van Saene makes elegant cocktail dresses for women with bow details and shrunken cardigans.
—
Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
His words evoke the image of an animal slithering on the ground before growing—an allusion that was likely intended as a gardening pun about reptiles, argues classics scholar Rebecca Armstrong.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
Plentiful other allusions suggest the wait may not be too painful; the long breadcrumb trail, sprinkled throughout 2025, gives the impression OR3 is just waiting to burst out of her.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Speaking to the theatrical experience, Spielberg made a brief allusion to the flare-up around comments by Timothée Chalamet regarding the popularity of opera and ballet in relation to the movies.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
His words evoke the image of an animal slithering on the ground before growing—an allusion that was likely intended as a gardening pun about reptiles, argues classics scholar Rebecca Armstrong.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
Plentiful other allusions suggest the wait may not be too painful; the long breadcrumb trail, sprinkled throughout 2025, gives the impression OR3 is just waiting to burst out of her.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Speaking to the theatrical experience, Spielberg made a brief allusion to the flare-up around comments by Timothée Chalamet regarding the popularity of opera and ballet in relation to the movies.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusion
Noun
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Fiapoto is one of the Bay Area’s most prominent contemporary rapper, whose moniker is a reference to his gang, according to police.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
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In April 2026, Olivia Rodrigo released music that has since sparked fan theories about a possible reference to her ex, actor Louis Partridge.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This one regrettable fight between husband and wife has far-reaching implications for the community surrounding a ritzy LA country club, where Josh is the general manager and Ashley and Austin are his underlings.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
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For Californians acclimated to dry heat, that could have potential health implications.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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