delusion

noun

de·lu·sion | \di-ˈlü-zhən,

dē-\

Definition of delusion

1a : 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

Other Words from delusion Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about delusion

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from delusion

delusional \-ˈlüzh-nəl,

-ˈlü-zhə-nᵊl \ adjective

delusionary \-zhə-ˌner-ē

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for delusion

delusion, illusion, hallucination, mirage mean something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal. delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind. delusions of persecution illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines. an illusion of safety hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs. suffered from terrifying hallucinations mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim. claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

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

Under manager Didier Deschamps, a goalkeeper has no delusions of footballing grandeur. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, "France to Hugo Lloris: Get Back in Goal," 13 July 2018 Given such accounts, the odds of keeping loyal troops seems like panning for gold—or worse, an exercise in self-delusion. — Jeff Stein, Newsweek, "Inside the CIA's Syrian Rebels Vetting Machine," 10 Nov. 2014 Hanging out with Johnny Depp sounds like either a horror show or absolutely amazing, depending on your tolerance for – well, for anything and everything: drugs, wine, hubris and self-delusion. — Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Johnny Depp's interview with Rolling Stone is outrageous, depressing," 22 June 2018 What could be a lie might also just be delusion or ignorance. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Is Trump lying about why he fired Comey, or did he simply forget?," 31 May 2018 Shame on her sick, sick self, but more shame on the doctors who were complicit in this delusion. — Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, "Video shows mom injecting child with liquid that could’ve killed him, search warrant says," 1 May 2018 Lewis is ice cold, pale, and pathetic, as Soames clings to his Victorian delusions, stuffing his emotions down, his eyes a brutish blue. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Ten actors who shone even before they were stars," 28 June 2018 No one left on this lawless landscape still harbors any delusions of doing the right thing. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Violent, self-admiring sequel 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' gets lost in the desert," 26 June 2018 Our Beirut experience did not give me delusions of being a journalist. — CNN, "Anthony Bourdain shone a different light on the Middle East," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delusion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about delusion

Dictionary Entries near delusion

deluginous

de lunatico inquirendo

Phrases Related to delusion

labor under a delusion/misapprehension/misconception

Statistics for delusion

Last Updated

21 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for delusion

The first known use of delusion was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for delusion

delusion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of delusion

: a belief that is not true : a false idea

: a false idea or belief that is caused by mental illness

See the full definition for delusion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

delusion

noun

de·lu·sion | \di-ˈlü-zhən

Kids Definition of delusion

: a false belief that continues in spite of the facts “You might be laboring under the delusion that the entire … world is impressed with you …”— J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire

delusion

noun

de·lu·sion | \di-ˈlü-zhən

Medical Definition of delusion

1a : the act of deluding : the state of being deluded

b : an abnormal mental state characterized by the occurrence of psychotic delusions

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