allusive

American  

[uh-loo-siv] / əˈlu sɪv /

adjective

1. having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions.

2. Obsolete. metaphorical; symbolic; figurative.

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allusive British  

/ əˈluːsɪv /

adjective

1. containing or full of allusions

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Other Word Forms

• allusively adverb
• allusiveness noun
• unallusive adjective
• unallusively adverb
• unallusiveness noun

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:

• allusive vs. elusive

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."

Example Sentences

The result is allusive, ambitious, occasionally frustrating, often exhilarating.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

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 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