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
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
In contrast to the soulless 2010 remake, allusions to the original film are done with care so that something like Julie (Tracy Middendorf) getting pulled onto the ceiling feels as shocking as the moment that inspired it a decade prior.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
And even in a film telling a universal story, some cultural allusions speak most strongly to the home audience.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 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
Those messages included a mix of memes and allusions to video games.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
The messages on the bullet casings also included a mix of memes and allusions to video games.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
While some allusions only indicate the time, others go into mythology.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
In contrast to the soulless 2010 remake, allusions to the original film are done with care so that something like Julie (Tracy Middendorf) getting pulled onto the ceiling feels as shocking as the moment that inspired it a decade prior.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
And even in a film telling a universal story, some cultural allusions speak most strongly to the home audience.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 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
Those messages included a mix of memes and allusions to video games.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
The messages on the bullet casings also included a mix of memes and allusions to video games.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
While some allusions only indicate the time, others go into mythology.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusions
Noun
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The Democratic Socialist's speech was peppered with an array of cosmopolitan references.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Kelce worked with founder of fine jewelry label Artifex Fine, Kindred Lubeck, on Swift's engagement ring, opting for a massive old mine brilliant cut diamond, a gemstone with antique references.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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From the 15th century down to the present day, the Church has constructed an identity and a past at odds with what the records show—expanding the authority and power of the papacy in ways that have striking broader political implications.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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The effort had long-term implications for the future.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusions. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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