as in references
a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
The lyrics contain biblical allusions.
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Recent Examples of allusions
And posts with allusions to extremism have popped up on occasion in individual department or agency feeds, especially at DHS, which oversees both Customs and Border Protection and ICE.
—
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
What might have been just an engaging children’s story becomes also a set of hints, allusions, and glimpses, the early experiences of learning about a larger world.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
The finale also makes some allusions to things to come.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025
Take note of the clever literary allusions and wordplay that might have gone over your head back in elementary school.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
All the Amityville allusions are present (and very much intended), but as ever with Harrison, the entire project is elevated by her facility with character and endearing snark.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Boxing puns and allusions aside, competition between a father and son in the same Grammy category is hard to come by, but not without precedent.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
The allusions to Mexican culture appear to be designed to highlight the Republican claims that Democrats are demanding federal benefits for migrants without legal status as a condition to winning their support on a budget bill — a charge the Democrats deny.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
Repression, self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, jealousy, emotional abuse, and even allusions to grooming, among other terrors of the fog, keep the tensions high from start to finish.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
What might have been just an engaging children’s story becomes also a set of hints, allusions, and glimpses, the early experiences of learning about a larger world.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
The finale also makes some allusions to things to come.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025
Take note of the clever literary allusions and wordplay that might have gone over your head back in elementary school.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
All the Amityville allusions are present (and very much intended), but as ever with Harrison, the entire project is elevated by her facility with character and endearing snark.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Boxing puns and allusions aside, competition between a father and son in the same Grammy category is hard to come by, but not without precedent.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
The allusions to Mexican culture appear to be designed to highlight the Republican claims that Democrats are demanding federal benefits for migrants without legal status as a condition to winning their support on a budget bill — a charge the Democrats deny.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
Repression, self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, jealousy, emotional abuse, and even allusions to grooming, among other terrors of the fog, keep the tensions high from start to finish.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusions
Noun
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Recommendations are accompanied by references, and users can trace each insight back to its source.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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According to the bid request, the district asked for three references and while MoHall provided three, only one returned any recommendation and the other two did not reply after several inquiries.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That’s a $35 billion integration with massive regulatory, operational, and cultural implications.—
Ron Shevlin,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The implications of high land prices are profound, especially for housing affordability and availability.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusions. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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