allusive
Americanadjective
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having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions.
-
Obsolete. metaphorical; symbolic; figurative.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of allusive
First recorded in 1595–1605; allus(ion) + -ive
Compare meaning
How does allusive compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Allusive means implying or indirectly suggesting something. If you broach the subject of your friend's strange hair cut in an allusive way, you hint around without ever directly referring to it. Modern dances are full of allusive movements and gestures — they symbolize or suggest deeper meanings. Poetry is often quite allusive too, using symbols and vague impressions rather than straightforwardly addressing a topic. It's easy to confuse allusive with elusive, which is pronounced the same way but means "difficult to find or achieve."
Vocabulary lists containing allusive
Stories of Ourselves
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The Lives of a Cell
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
F1 drivers generally don't talk about this stuff, and if they do it tends to be in an allusive manner that tries to hide any weaknesses.
From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025
This is a thronged, esoteric, besottedly allusive novel, one of the most niche things I have ever reviewed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
This allusive track boasts the album’s most sweeping chorus, anchored by Swift’s mesmeric alto and a masterfully orchestrated rhythm that uses moments of quiet to its advantage.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
These kinds of touches are gently allusive, suggesting more of an atmosphere than pretending to some grand interpretation.
From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2022
The story told by myxotricha is as deep as any myth, as profoundly allusive.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
