Hint
Hint noun - A slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation).
Reference is a synonym for hint in indication topic. In some cases you can use "Reference" instead the word "Hint" as a noun or a verb.
Reference
Reference noun - Something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information.
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Synonyms for Reference
Hint is a synonym for reference in remark topic. You can use "Hint" instead the word "Reference" as a noun or a verb, if it concerns topics such as indication.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
| good | good hint | good reference |
| clear | clear hint | clear reference |
| brief | brief hint | brief reference |
| direct | direct hint | direct reference |
| Other adjectives: single, obvious, blatant, small, real, big, obscure, cryptic, huge, little, slight, subtle, deliberate, early, vague, possible, explicit, veiled, further, oblique, occasional, intentional, visual. | ||
Both words in one sentence
- Subverted in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull when such a reference is used to hint at a double agent's true loyalty, but the hint is not picked up on.
Source: Tactical Reminiscence -
Shout-Out: The veiled hint about Lord Blackstock's early love life doubles as a reference to a similar idea in Philip José Farmer's novel Tarzan Alive.
Source: Comic Book / Planetary -
The reference to 19 (instead of 20) spectators in the Peanut Gallery during the final challenge and the flowers on the table hint at the nature of the tragedy that drives the story.
Source: Foreshadowing
Cite this Source
Reference and Hint. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/hint/reference
Hint & Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/hint/reference>.
Reference or Hint. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/hint/reference.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "hint" and "reference" have occurred on timeline