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 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 The Lady From the Sea, one of Ibsen’s most mysterious and allusive plays, centers on the figure of Ellida, a lighthouse keeper’s daughter with a maritime obsession. — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allusive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusive

Adjective

This display, which uses objects from the Historical’s collection to describe central tensions around an issue or event, is indicative of the key storytelling modality of the show.

— Cat Dawson, ARTnews.com, 3 July 2026
The stark change in what $250 can get you at Plex is indicative of the company’s financial goals.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of indicative

Adjective

The resurgence of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s long-running shock comedy and cultural satire is, at the very least, reflective of the actual show’s cultural footprint in the past year.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
These drops nourish skin with a combination of tsubaki oil, avocado seed oil, and squalane, while reflective mica delivers a subtle glow.

— Deanna Pai, Vogue, 10 July 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

Buffalo chicken is always a crowd-pleasing flavor profile, and this enchilada-style casserole makes the most of its telltale spice and tang.

— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
The microlensing lineup between the two stars came and went in 2023, and the telltale planetary signal sat unnoticed in TESS’s archive for nearly three years before researchers connected the dots.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

Definition of telltale

Adjective

Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, known for her expressive vocals, died at age 27 from alcohol poisoning.

— USA Today, USA Today, 7 July 2026
His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Definition of expressive

Adjective

In certain people, physicians may recommend a breast MRI; for instance, for a symptomatic patient or an asymptomatic person with a high risk of developing breast cancer.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Evidence for chiropractic care is limited to the symptomatic relief of musculoskeletal conditions, primarily low back and neck pain.

— David S. Shapiro, STAT, 30 June 2026

Definition of symptomatic

Adjective

Losing title fights to Charles Oliveira (symbolic BMF belt), Ilia Topuria (featherweight), and Alex Volkanovski (featherweight).

— Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Jordan Smith Councilors rejected a symbolic demand for reforms at the Indy office that targets the root causes of violent crime, after a recent audit found oversight lapses and potential conflicts of interest while the spending rose.

— Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 9 July 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 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of allusive

adjective

Example Sentences

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