Thesaurus results for ALLUSIVE

allusive

adjective

Definition of allusive

as in referring

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of allusive Where An Orange Colored Day was gestural and allusive, A Rush to Nowhere is direct. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026 Yarvin tends to extreme digression, while Land speaks with the allusive compression of a guru. — James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026 David Bowie, charming in interviews, and leaning toward the abstract and allusive in his lyrics, was not given to weighing in on news events. — Alexander Larman, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026 At times sparse and allusive, Moon’s poems use blank space and other stylistic considerations to convey a voice and thought that ranges from the contemplative to the surreal and absurd. — Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allusive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusive

Adjective

Be aware of and report any coyotes exhibiting behavior indicative of rabies, such as staggering, seizures and extreme lethargy.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Two false tornado sirens that went off in DuPage County in August were unrelated and the result of two different types of errors, but may be indicative of a larger problem.

— Marie Saavedra, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of indicative

Adjective

This is balanced with white branding hits, while the Air Max 95’s signature reflective tongue and heel hits remain.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
All parents struggle in some way to adjust to life as empty nesters, but Charlie leaves his mom and dad in a somber, reflective state that casts a heavy pall over an episode that drifts toward the turgid.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of reflective

Adjective

Semantic bleaching is another linguistic process whereby the denotative content of a word is stripped away.

— Brandon Tensley, CNN, 10 July 2022
The paragon of such an attempt is something like Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror, a work that stands as a denotative record of the social media shift, yet still falls to the same difficulties that characterize other cultural criticism of this type.

— SPIN, SPIN, 8 Feb. 2022

Definition of denotative

Adjective

In other words, the 12% alpha hydroxy acid concentration gradually exfoliates the buildup behind that telltale texture while attracting water into the skin.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026
Probably the biggest telltale sign of COVID-19 is stomach symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

— Ann Sheehan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of telltale

Adjective

Research on expressive writing, published in PMC, has been shown to reduce rumination and help people process difficult emotions, which is the mechanism behind the short brain-dump practice.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Abrams has the kind of expressive face that can navigate a host of conflicting emotions.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of expressive

Adjective

Other analyses suggest about 40 percent of amateur athletes playing contact sports show brain changes that are characteristic of CTE, too.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
Patina, a thin surface layer that develops due to age, wear, or chemical reaction, is another characteristic to look for when identifying artwork age.

— Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Adjective

In 10% of the symptomatic cases, people develop serious lung problems that require medical care plus antifungal medication.

— Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
For the 25% who are symptomatic, those symptoms don’t appear until four to 10 days after being bitten.

— Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of symptomatic

Adjective

Now Santa Monica, perhaps fittingly, has its own symbolic project as Nancy Meyers’ next film Paris Paramount has shot on-location in the city.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Despite its informal format, the encounter carries considerable symbolic significance after decades of strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of symbolic

Browse Nearby Words

allusions

allusive

alluvion

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“Allusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusive. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of allusive

adjective

Example Sentences

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