as in references
a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
The lyrics contain biblical allusions.
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Recent Examples of allusions
Even more than usual, critics and Dylanologists scrutinized Modern Times for references and allusions, finding words and melodies paraphrased from the works of Muddy Waters, Bing Crosby, and the Roman poet Ovid.
—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
29 June 2026
His hours-long speeches, stuffed with classical allusions and thundering with invective, were distributed as pamphlets by the millions.
—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.
—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Wear with just a white bralette or a peasant top, fully tapping into the historical allusions.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
Hers is likewise a solitary journey, for reasons not explained beyond allusions to tight purse strings in this space colonization project, which is a collaboration between multiple agencies, governments and an unnamed private funder.
—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
There is a hyper awareness to TSADACM, a determination to point out each of its Easter eggs and allusions, lest the viewer think Schoenbrun is trying to outsmart anyone.
—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Meis moves from the Baroque virtuosity of Rubens’s study of a drunken mythological figure, through the jagged modernist puzzle of Marc’s allegorical animals, to Mitchell’s painterly abstractions and their flickering landscape allusions.
—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Van Beirendonck gravitates toward loud prints in bright colors and allusions to BDSM, whereas Van Saene makes elegant cocktail dresses for women with bow details and shrunken cardigans.
—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
29 June 2026
His hours-long speeches, stuffed with classical allusions and thundering with invective, were distributed as pamphlets by the millions.
—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.
—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Wear with just a white bralette or a peasant top, fully tapping into the historical allusions.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
Hers is likewise a solitary journey, for reasons not explained beyond allusions to tight purse strings in this space colonization project, which is a collaboration between multiple agencies, governments and an unnamed private funder.
—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
There is a hyper awareness to TSADACM, a determination to point out each of its Easter eggs and allusions, lest the viewer think Schoenbrun is trying to outsmart anyone.
—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Meis moves from the Baroque virtuosity of Rubens’s study of a drunken mythological figure, through the jagged modernist puzzle of Marc’s allegorical animals, to Mitchell’s painterly abstractions and their flickering landscape allusions.
—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Van Beirendonck gravitates toward loud prints in bright colors and allusions to BDSM, whereas Van Saene makes elegant cocktail dresses for women with bow details and shrunken cardigans.
—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusions
Noun
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Mining the multitude of horror movie references that the show ingenuously employs?
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The people who supported you during one chapter of your career may become mentors, references, partners, or colleagues again in another.
Noun
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While the Supreme Court ruling focused specifically on cases in West Virginia and Idaho, it is expected to have far-reaching implications for those additional 25 states — and possibly more if other states pursue similar legislation.
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But labor strife here is spilling off of the docks and into City Hall, with political implications for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, himself a former labor organizer who is expected to run for reelection in less than a year.
Cite this Entry
“Allusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusions. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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