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 Vault — moody, dim, speakeasy-like — doubles down on those historical allusions.
—
David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
There’s the suggestion that the satellite in the beginning is actually the silhouette of an Alien Queen, and there’s also an allusion to the Predator earlier as well.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
This allusion to cavernous splendor works both for and against the production, which is being directed, once again, by Landau.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The suggestion that Romy could lose everything at any moment is reaffirmed by Samuel’s dialogue and a pointed conversation with an older male power player in her company who makes allusions to knowing what happened with her (now former) intern near the end of the film.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allusion
David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
There’s the suggestion that the satellite in the beginning is actually the silhouette of an Alien Queen, and there’s also an allusion to the Predator earlier as well.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
This allusion to cavernous splendor works both for and against the production, which is being directed, once again, by Landau.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The suggestion that Romy could lose everything at any moment is reaffirmed by Samuel’s dialogue and a pointed conversation with an older male power player in her company who makes allusions to knowing what happened with her (now former) intern near the end of the film.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusion
Noun
-
For reference, a brand new iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at 7,999 yuan in China.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
-
Bonus points are available for a reference to their native Bay Area.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
The implication: Promote unions, not manufacturing.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
27 May 2025
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The implication that the media tends to portray is that the AI was somehow fully autonomous.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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