as in reference
a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
The lyrics contain biblical allusions.
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Recent Examples of allusion
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
Younger listeners will recognize the name from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, while old folks will note the allusion to the actor’s breakout performance in Spike Lee’s 1988 HBCU homage School Daze.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 25 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
See All Example Sentences for allusion
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
Younger listeners will recognize the name from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, while old folks will note the allusion to the actor’s breakout performance in Spike Lee’s 1988 HBCU homage School Daze.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 25 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
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusion
Noun
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There was no reference in the agreement to the future of the SDF's all-female fighting units -- a sensitive point as much of the Damascus leaders come from a conservative background and are opposed to women in combat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Bell pressed ahead with the show, loon references and all, and licensed it to HBO.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Not for escapism, per se – Roseberry’s Schiaparelli show, one of his finest and weirdest to date, vibrated with implications about our world’s rigid definition of beauty, with horns, feathers and splashes of neon – but for indulgence.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Ellis eventually granted the substitution of counsel, ruling that the defendant’s right to counsel of choice outweighed concerns about the implications of a delay.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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