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
There are some allusions to Eddied getting run out of New York at the start of the 2018 film, a wink to the character’s comic book storyline, and the Symbiote recognizes Spidey during a multiverse-hopping post-credits scene that connects to Spider-Man: No Way Home.
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James Grebey, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024
Millwood is an allusion to the conspiracy theory that late rapper Tupac is actually still alive and living under said pseudonym, Rolling Stone explains.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Instead, its vivid, expressive prose also explores how aesthetic beauty can cover stomach-churning abuse, while Lin’s rich literary allusions reveal her sensitivity to language and her critical interest in developing a Taiwanese cultural heritage.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024
Yes, there are allusions to David Cronenberg in Coralie Fargeat’s film — including one very notable fly — but the real point of comparison is the director Brian Yuzna’s Society.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allusion 
James Grebey, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024
Millwood is an allusion to the conspiracy theory that late rapper Tupac is actually still alive and living under said pseudonym, Rolling Stone explains.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Instead, its vivid, expressive prose also explores how aesthetic beauty can cover stomach-churning abuse, while Lin’s rich literary allusions reveal her sensitivity to language and her critical interest in developing a Taiwanese cultural heritage.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024
Yes, there are allusions to David Cronenberg in Coralie Fargeat’s film — including one very notable fly — but the real point of comparison is the director Brian Yuzna’s Society.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allusion
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Cite this Entry
“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusion. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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