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
Its very name, the flight number for Air France’s iconic Concorde flights between New York and Paris in the 1970s, is an allusion to the carrier’s rich history.
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Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
But according to the author, Taylor surmised that Dean’s confession was also allusion to his sexuality.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
And hip-hop revels in hyperlocal references, in-group nicknames, real or invented slang, glancing verbal and musical allusions, and multilayered wordplay.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Certain lines rely on overly clunky allusions, half-baked metaphors, or both.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allusion 
Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
But according to the author, Taylor surmised that Dean’s confession was also allusion to his sexuality.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
And hip-hop revels in hyperlocal references, in-group nicknames, real or invented slang, glancing verbal and musical allusions, and multilayered wordplay.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Certain lines rely on overly clunky allusions, half-baked metaphors, or both.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allusion
Thesaurus Entries Near allusion
Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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