allusive

adjective

Definition of allusivenext
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
  1. indicative
  2. reflective
  3. denotative
  4. telltale
  5. expressive
  6. characteristic
  7. symptomatic
  8. symbolic
Adjective
  • The world building is easier to understand and less dense than Crescent City, and the tone is also the most indicative of SJM’s writing on the whole; Throne of Glass started as a YA series, then becomes more adult over time.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The way this game played out was indicative of what Mahomes’ career has become.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicative
Adjective
  • If a dog does come trick-or-treating, he or she should be kept on a short leash and outfitted in some reflective gear, and owners should be aware of their surroundings.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Photographed by Mert Alas, the campaign captures Shayk in the warmth of golden hour, illuminated by reflective light.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 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
  • During a frightening moment, notice the telltale signs of alarm, like trembling hands, a racing heart, or feeling cold.
    — Juli Fraga, Time, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Today the lines look like prose, forming a continuous text with no hint of structure in the layout and no telltale end rhymes to interrupt the flow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of telltale
Adjective
  • The organ has an imposing physical presence, but its expressive range can become constricting over 13 tracks.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • For Cone, that means fabrics with softer hands and authentic but expressive shades.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • The ad is characteristic of the increasingly dark tone Hilton’s campaign has taken on in the home stretch.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Drone motors and propellers generate characteristic sounds during operation.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Adjective
  • That’s symptomatic of broader growth and the reputation of SISF of forging industry contacts.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Most uncomplicated muscle strains improve with symptomatic treatment, but some could develop neurological complications.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of symptomatic
Adjective
  • Lifetime members of the prestigious institution are known in France as Immortals, a symbolic title.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • This approach also failed to deter Ukraine’s land incursions into Russia and strikes on symbolic Russian targets and Russian strategic infrastructure, let alone compel Kyiv to surrender.
    — Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of symbolic

Browse Nearby Words

allusions
allusive
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Cite this Entry

“Allusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusive. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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