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delude

play
verb de·lude \di-ˈlüd, dē-\

Definition of delude

deluded

;

deluding
  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to mislead the mind or judgment of :  deceive, trick … people he regards as deluded by the romantic idea that children somehow possess innate knowledge … — Andrew Delbanco … Hamilton apparently deluded himself, as the first Treasury secretary, into thinking his policies patriotic when their effect, Mr. Phillips says, was to put money into silken purses. — Michael Knox Beran

  3. 2 obsolete a :  frustrate, disappointb :  evade, elude

deluder

noun

See delude defined for English-language learners

See delude defined for kids

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Examples of delude in a Sentence

  1. we deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn't affect our diet

Origin and Etymology of delude

Middle English, from Latin deludere, from de- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

delude Synonyms

Synonyms
bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, deceive, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick
Antonyms
undeceive
Related Words
kid, put on, tease; bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, flam, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle
Near Antonyms
debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; disclose, divulge, tell, unveil; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion

Synonym Discussion of delude

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness. tried to deceive me about the cost mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional. I was misled by the confusing sign delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth. we were deluded into thinking we were safe beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving. was beguiled by false promises

DELUDE Defined for English Language Learners

delude

play
verb

Definition of delude for English Language Learners

  • : to cause (someone) to believe something that is not true

DELUDE Defined for Kids

delude

play
verb de·lude \di-ˈlüd\

Definition of delude for Students

deluded

;

deluding

  1. :  deceive 1, mislead They were deluded by the ad's claims.

Medical Dictionary

delude

play
transitive verb de·lude \di-ˈlüd\

Medical Definition of delude

deluded

;

deluding

  1. :  to mislead the mind or judgment of

Learn More about delude

  1. See words that rhyme with delude Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for delude Spanish Central: Translation of delude Nglish: Translation of delude for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of delude for Arabic speakers

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Examples: delude in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide