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
And those songs trudge, Tom Waits-like, only to unwind, long and dense, full of allusions to history and Greek myth and film noir and pop culture and mentors and friends, plus death and apocalypse.
—
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
These sky sights are also an allusion to all cultures — including Indigenous peoples — who have navigated by them in the past.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But, as Jude has noted in interviews, the title is also an allusion.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
These sky sights are also an allusion to all cultures — including Indigenous peoples — who have navigated by them in the past.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But, as Jude has noted in interviews, the title is also an allusion.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusion
Noun
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It was so well presented with countless references to viral moments and gaffes.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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As polished-glam and old-Hollywood as the references were, there were moments that also felt sleazy and fun in the way that Hollywood in 2007 did, when getting photographed pouring out of a car on the way into the club was a rite of passage and full of its own twisted promise.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The game surely will have some late-season playoff implications as well, giving it top billing on a Chiefs schedule that features quite a few other doozies.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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But most of the chatter centered around the price tag (at the time, $40,000 per year) and overlooked the broader implications of the offering.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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