allusive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'allusive' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something in an indirect way, usually with the intention of evoking a certain image or idea in the mind of the reader. For example: His comments were highly allusive, suggesting a hidden agenda.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Baroque imagery, bizarre humour and labyrinthine plots made his elusive and allusive oeuvre unlike anything else in contemporary cinema.

The Guardian - Film

"No, but I have seen it very intimately, and the changes are not subtle, they are fundamental…" Hegarty has perhaps always been aware that he has the capacity to shift between these two operating systems, to try them both on for size and communicate in his highly allusive way how it feels.

The Guardian - Music

But "Echo's Bones" is itself almost insanely allusive, even in comparison to Beckett's other works.

The Guardian - Books

At the recent Encountering the Anthropocene conference convened by the University of Sydney, an Indigenous elder described to me some of the allusive stories of his people's empathetic relationships with whales.

The Guardian - Opinion

More avant-garde objet d'art than drag queen, Mykki wears a fearsome honey-brown wig while performing allusive rap with a radical-gay bent.

The New York Times

His elegy for a fellow poet, Mick Imlah, shows a directness and clarity that is not always felt in his allusive poetry.

The Economist

Joyce is allusive and experimental, and the helping books do indeed help the reader mine for historical and literary meanings that reward often.

The Economist

The death from drugs of his younger brother inspired "Blood on the Floor", a tender elegy for guitar, strings and muted trumpets, and Francis Bacon's paintings were the explosive trigger for the densely allusive "Three Screaming Popes".

The Economist

A reader can now trace Larkin's development from his allusive Oxford University Labour Club Bulletin efforts "about trees and the sky and the seasons" to his more mature, better-known works.

The Economist

"The Waste Land", a difficult and richly allusive work that first came out in 1922, had been hailed as one of the finest poems of his generation.

The Economist

Perhaps the painter allowed himself the (unworldly?) hope that Mr Fox Weber would follow to the letter his injunction to deal with the works and ignore the colourful, allusive anecdotes with which he salted their conversations.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allusive" when you want to add depth and sophistication to your writing by subtly referencing well-known ideas or works. This can engage a knowledgeable audience and add layers of meaning.

Common error

Avoid making your writing overly "allusive" to the point where it becomes unclear or inaccessible to your audience. Ensure that your allusions are recognizable or provide sufficient context for those who may not be familiar with them.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "allusive" primarily functions to describe something that makes indirect references or hints to another work, idea, or concept. This enhances the text's depth, inviting interpretation and enriching the reader's experience. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

35%

News & Media

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "allusive" is a versatile term used to describe something characterized by indirect references or hints. As verified by Ludwig AI, it carries a neutral register and is commonly employed across diverse contexts such as encyclopedias, news media, and scientific writing. When using "allusive", ensure clarity and provide sufficient context to avoid alienating your audience. Consider synonyms like "suggestive", "evocative", or "indirect" to precisely convey your intended meaning. With a source quality score of 83 and a high expert rating of 4.5, "allusive" remains a valuable asset in enriching your written and spoken communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggestive

Highlights the capacity to imply or hint at something without stating it explicitly.

oblique

Emphasizes the indirectness and lack of straightforwardness in the reference.

indirect

This term emphasizes the lack of directness in the reference, focusing on the roundabout nature of the communication.

connotative

Highlights the associated or secondary meanings of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning.

evocative

Focuses on the ability to bring thoughts, feelings, or memories to mind.

symbolic

Indicates that something represents or stands for something else, often a deeper or more abstract idea.

referential

Emphasizes the act of making reference to something else, often implying a deeper understanding is needed.

figurative

Focuses on deviating from the literal use of words or expressions.

hinting

Suggests a subtle or delicate way of indicating something.

implicative

Focuses on the quality of implying something, often with a legal or logical context.

FAQs

How can I use "allusive" in a sentence?

You can use "allusive" to describe something that makes indirect references. For example, "The poem's language was highly allusive, referencing classical mythology".

What words are similar to "allusive"?

Alternatives to "allusive" include "suggestive", "evocative", or "indirect", each emphasizing different aspects of indirect reference.

Is it appropriate to use "allusive" in formal writing?

Yes, "allusive" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when aiming to add depth and nuance. However, ensure the allusions are clear to your intended audience to avoid confusion.

What's the difference between "allusive" and "elusive"?

"Allusive" means containing or making use of allusions or indirect references, while "elusive" means difficult to find, catch, or achieve. The terms are not interchangeable.