delusion
noun
de·lu·sion
di-ˈlü-zhən 
dē-
1
a
: something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated
under the delusion that they will finish on schedule
delusions of grandeur
b
psychology
: a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary
the delusion that someone was out to hurt him
also
: the abnormal state marked by such beliefs
2
: the act of tricking or deceiving someone : the state of being deluded
… accused the Bohemian of having practised the most abominable arts of delusion among the younger brethren.—
Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Synonyms
Examples of delusion in a Sentence
He has delusions about how much money he can make at that job.
He is living under the delusion that he is incapable of making mistakes.
She is under the delusion that we will finish on time.
As the illness progressed, his delusions took over and he had violent outbursts.
Recent Examples on the Web
The book cleverly draws you into the characters, motivations, and delusions of the founders of the Sullivan Institute, a radical community created in 1957 around an offshoot of psychoanalytic theory.
—Hannah E. Meyers, National Review, 10 Sep. 2023
For solace, give him only science fiction novels, superhero comics and a cadre of younger siblings and cousins to boss around, imbuing him with delusions of grandeur and a taste for unchecked power.
—Will Oremus, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Never has a stop so effectively demarcated the line between delusion, reality, and the liminal space in between.
7.
—Jessica Gentile, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Lucas also recognized that sometimes waiting for the most unsettling symptoms of the disorder to emerge — the disturbing swirl of delusion and paranoia — often brought the best results.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2023
Maybe a national trance would lift and the remaining dead-enders would shake their delusions.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
This is known as the delusion of expertise and can accelerate gambling behaviors and, ultimately, the development of a gambling addiction.
—Rachel Epstein, Men's Health, 22 Aug. 2023
The hatefulness culminated with an uprising at Capitol, with largely well to-do white people hopped up with rage and delusions to start a civil war against the non-Republican world on behalf of (and with the encouragement of) the former occupant of the White House.
—Malaika Jabali, Essence, 16 Aug. 2023
Mary Costantino was walking back to her car with a friend after a night out in Goose Hollow when a man experiencing a delusion threw a metal bottle at her head and knocked her out.
—oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
Hannah E. Meyers, National Review, 10 Sep. 2023
For solace, give him only science fiction novels, superhero comics and a cadre of younger siblings and cousins to boss around, imbuing him with delusions of grandeur and a taste for unchecked power.
—Will Oremus, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Never has a stop so effectively demarcated the line between delusion, reality, and the liminal space in between.
7.
—Jessica Gentile, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Lucas also recognized that sometimes waiting for the most unsettling symptoms of the disorder to emerge — the disturbing swirl of delusion and paranoia — often brought the best results.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2023
Maybe a national trance would lift and the remaining dead-enders would shake their delusions.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
This is known as the delusion of expertise and can accelerate gambling behaviors and, ultimately, the development of a gambling addiction.
—Rachel Epstein, Men's Health, 22 Aug. 2023
The hatefulness culminated with an uprising at Capitol, with largely well to-do white people hopped up with rage and delusions to start a civil war against the non-Republican world on behalf of (and with the encouragement of) the former occupant of the White House.
—Malaika Jabali, Essence, 16 Aug. 2023
Mary Costantino was walking back to her car with a friend after a night out in Goose Hollow when a man experiencing a delusion threw a metal bottle at her head and knocked her out.
—oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delusion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing delusion
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Dictionary Entries Near delusion
Cite this Entry
“Delusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delusion. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
delusion
noun
de·lu·sion
di-ˈlü-zhən
1
: the act of deluding : the state of being deluded
2
a
: a mistaken or misleading belief
b
: a false belief that persists despite evidence proving it false and occurs especially in some mentally disturbed states
Medical Definition
delusion
noun
de·lu·sion
di-ˈlü-zhən
1
2
: a false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that persists despite the facts and occurs in some psychotic states compare hallucination sense 1, illusion sense 2a
More from Merriam-Webster on delusion
Nglish: Translation of delusion for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of delusion for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about delusion
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