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
Berg’s documentary makes no allusions to fatal drug use or suicidal tendencies, but the specter of mortality was something Buckley acknowledged throughout his own life.
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Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 6 Aug. 2025
There are other allusions to unfavorable animal traits in humans.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The appearance on January 6 of a gallows with a noose hanging from it outside the Capitol visually reinforced the allusion to that defining moment in the novel.
—James Shapiro, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
The images are more grounded in the tribulations of romance, which the researchers argue also better fit Chaucer’s later allusions to the poem.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 6 Aug. 2025
There are other allusions to unfavorable animal traits in humans.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The appearance on January 6 of a gallows with a noose hanging from it outside the Capitol visually reinforced the allusion to that defining moment in the novel.
—James Shapiro, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
The images are more grounded in the tribulations of romance, which the researchers argue also better fit Chaucer’s later allusions to the poem.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusion
Noun
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Divided into three sections—pre-Katrina, Katrina, and post-Katrina/future—the work weaves together photographic references, news clippings, household items like keys and family albums, and drawings that envision what comes next.—
Janee Bolden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
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Here’s a list of all the North Texas references in the show, episode-by-episode.—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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International implications of using foreign fighters By allowing non-Ukrainians to serve, Kyiv runs the risk of these fighters being labelled as mercenaries by Russia, leaving them vulnerable to capture, detention and extradition to Russia.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Those implications are front of mind for South Korea – with Google standing to potentially gain a lot if the government decides in their favor in October.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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