allusions

noun

plural of allusion
as in references
a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly The lyrics contain biblical allusions.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of allusions Ari Aster’s most polarizing film to date features allusions to both the Odyssey and another film influenced by Homer’s epic, The Wizard of Oz (1939). — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026 Much of that album, plus many of the other older songs Dylan performed Monday, makes allusions to classical antiquity, literature and religion to tackle themes of redemption and divine judgment. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026 Come for the sisterhood, stay for allusions to William Faulkner and Donna Tartt. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allusions
  1. references
  2. implications
Noun
  • Uniting these jokes is a streak of playful irreverence, a facility for tempering challenging ideas with American cultural references, and a reluctance to provide more explanation than necessary.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And found our own references, got into it, got the concept down, looked at some different artists.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of references
Noun
  • Someone in Beijing floated convertibility-by-token, watched the implications propagate, and closed the file.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Setting basic age limits is one tactic to help ensure your child is mature enough to understand the lasting implications of a drastic change, Lichtenstein says.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of implications

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allusion
allusions
allusive
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Cite this Entry

“Allusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allusions. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on allusions

Nglish: Translation of allusions for Spanish Speakers

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