as in to disabuse
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes
we were disillusioned when we saw how the movie star acted in real life
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as in disillusionment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disillusion
Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Much of the New Left, disillusioned with electoral politics after the fiasco of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, went back to the land.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
These leaders pose a significant risk, disillusion us the most, and undercut the argument that character is essential to success.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disillusion
Verb
Perhaps this is the new normal for a luxury industry in flux, transformed by economic headwinds, a quickening innovation cycle, and a young generation of consumers disillusioned with the status quo.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Much of the New Left, disillusioned with electoral politics after the fiasco of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, went back to the land.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
Diminishing political and social returns — ideas that start from good intentions only to end in frustration and disillusion — seem to plague most attempts at addressing America’s structural problems, which remain and persist.
—Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
These leaders pose a significant risk, disillusion us the most, and undercut the argument that character is essential to success.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disillusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disillusion
Verb
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This is also why disabusing new believers of such opinions can feel like plucking shell fragments from a cooking omelet.—
Emil Steiner,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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There is no shortage of opportunities for children, particularly Black and brown ones, to be disabused of their fantasies.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Advertisement In a recent interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Liu attributed her pre-comeback disillusionment with the sport to controlling expectations over her diet and her expressive choices in competition, a particularly toxic mandate in a sport where scoring is dependent on aesthetics.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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The end of his life is a story of unremarkable middle-class comforts amid an aura of disillusionment.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the five decades since Portugal threw off its fascist dictatorship, a presidential election has only once before — in 1986 — required a runoff, highlighting how fragmented the political landscape has become with the rise of the far-right and voter disenchantment with mainstream parties.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
18 Jan. 2026
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In November, Johnson, fed up with McNamara’s disenchantment and his pleadings for a policy shift toward negotiations, announced that the defense secretary would depart the administration to lead the World Bank—in effect, firing him.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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American workers are disenchanted, depressed and frustrated.—
Chris Tomlinson,
Houston Chronicle,
5 Feb. 2026
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For more than 15 years, independents have made up the largest group of voters, as Americans have grown increasingly disenchanted with the two-party system.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His party successfully capitalized on rising nationalism fueled by a deadly border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia last year, economic woes and uncertainty over Thailand’s trade relationship with the United States, and built up a strong local support base.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Since both of Tuesday’s matches ended in a tie, there was a little uncertainty as to who buys the beers.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disillusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disillusion. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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