allusive

/əˈlusɪv/

Other forms: allusively

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."

Definitions of allusive

1. adjective

   characterized by indirect references
   “allusive speech is characterized by allusions”

   synonyms:

   indirect

   extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action