How to Use referential in a Sentence

referential

adjective

• The ghazal is an M.C.’s form: repeating words, a rhyme scheme, the self-referential last line that signals the end of the bars.
  — New York Times, 1 July 2021
• Only Kevin could make such a self-referential film and get away with it.
  — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022
• But what about formal objects that were referential — to their own making and maybe even to the body?
  — Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
• As has been the case throughout her Paris stay, the First Lady paid tribute to the host country in her own referential way.
  — Rosemary Feitelberg | Wwd, latimes.com, 14 July 2017
• Yeah, [my comedy] is referential and goofy and kind of sniping in lines here and there.
  — Nick Vadala, Philly.com, 5 July 2017
• Its mysteries are self-aware and referential, and rarely hard to solve.
  — Caroline Framke, Variety, 26 Jan. 2022
• Not unlike the youthful, sporty styles synonymous with the referential decade of the moment, Jenner brought the look home with a nude lip and glossy dark nails.
  — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2019
• But while writers can play with self-referential in-jokes, the classic moments can't be topped.
  — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 22 May 2018
• But leave it to Zendaya to step out in a look at once referential, genre-minded, and entirely her own.
  — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2021
• But cheeky, self-referential ads are kind of Ryder and Jacobs's thing.
  — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2022
• This may be McNally's valentine to Broadway (or, with all the self-referential lines, to his own shows).
  — NOLA.com, 12 June 2017
• If anything, the studio has upped the self-referential gags and off-the-wall marketing gimmicks.
  — Ryan Faughnder, latimes.com, 17 May 2018
• The title is an Iggy Pop rip, one of many blatantly referential turns of phrase on the album.
  — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 July 2017
• Lookwell didn't get a pick up, but the absurdist-referential clique loved West and kept him employed.
  — Darren Franich, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2022
• Over the last decade, hardly a week goes by without another addition to the self-referential canon, and the trend shows no sign of abating.
  — Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2019
• Producing eight of the mixtape’s 12 songs (two tracks are skits), D-Pat laid the foundation of the album’s referential but modern sound.
  — Damien Scott, Billboard, 9 Nov. 2023
• The characters feel more lived-in, and the dialogue, music and settings can be self-referential.
  — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2018
• But its voice, as set by the creator, Jesse Armstrong, is arch and referential; its details demand a range of knowledge or at least the willingness to Google.
  — James Poniewozik, New York Times, 26 May 2023
• The few fun ideas get buried under referential shenanigans.
  — Darren Franich, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2023
• Yes, this column has turned into something of a self-referential rant.
  — Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
• The choir heard in the background is mysterious rather than referential.
  — Armond White, National Review, 5 May 2021
• Rather than barely there makeup or easy beach waves, Kendall Jenner is marking the start of summer with a wash of referential, retro beauty.
  — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 21 June 2017
• Nerdy icon Felicia Day, in a guest role, fits in easily on the self-referential series.
  — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2018
• In a true testament to the referential nature of fashion, nostalgia is in the air and wooden shoe details are back.
  — Jamila Stewart, Essence, 27 Apr. 2021
• The blue of the new work thus seems referential, and poignant, even if reference was coincidental.
  — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, 21 July 2019
• And keeping the media focused on a self-referential feud between Trump and the media is a way to maintain his preferred approach of trying to suck up all the oxygen in the room.
  — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 14 Nov. 2018
• Ware’s present conversation reflects the referential cycle of Brooklyn cool that attracted her to the area in the first place.
  — Essence, 16 May 2024
• For go-go beauty looks, models wore a blend of 90s polish mixed with punky rawness, a nod to the brand’s heritage, without being too referential.
  — Kathleen Hou, ELLE, 9 Sep. 2023
• This year would have been an apt time to show up since Taylor does have her campy, self-referential, pseudo-serious moments.
  — Claire Dodson, Teen Vogue, 7 May 2019
• Even Diesel, and most people don’t see it, has quite referential historic elements.
  — José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 12 June 2024

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2024