Definition of delusion
1 : 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
2a : something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated under the delusion that they will finish on schedule delusions of grandeurb 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
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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 of delusion from the Web
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There should be no delusion that even re-signing their best players will get the Raptors anywhere closer to the Cavs’ high-water mark, but there are worse outcomes than keeping a solid (if ill-fated) footing in the East’s competitive hierarchy.
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The idea that porn prevented him from killing women was a self-serving delusion that justified his impulse to write and draw portrayals of torture.
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Andueza isn’t under any delusions that the new federal funds will solve all of Idaho’s opioid problems.
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A classic example of one who fails to heed his own advice, Kohl’s defeat in 1998 and his tumble in the public’s esteem were seen by many as the results of seeking to hold power too long and suffering delusions of being above the law.
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In modern times, just as further back in history, madness is a slippery concept, hard to pin down unless there are obvious signs of delusion, derangement, paranoia, or actual physical aggression.
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Colbert solved it by dialing the parody levels up to 11, making his Daily Show character a cable news pseudo-expert with godlike delusions of grandeur.
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That drug, Nuplacid, can be used for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions sometimes seen in people with Parkinson’s disease.
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And mind control, fake broadcasts, memory police, and mass delusion in The Lie of the Land all nod pleasingly at George Orwell's 1984.
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.
Origin and Etymology of delusion
Middle English, from Late Latin delusion-, delusio, from deludere —see delude
Synonym Discussion of delusion
Other Psychology Terms
DELUSION Defined for English Language Learners
delusion
playDefinition of delusion for English Language Learners
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: a belief that is not true : a false idea
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: a false idea or belief that is caused by mental illness
DELUSION Defined for Kids
delusion
playDefinition of delusion for Students
: 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
Medical Dictionary
delusion
playMedical Definition of delusion
1a: the act of deluding : the state of being deludedb: 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 1, illusion 2a
Learn More about delusion
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See words that rhyme with delusion Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for delusion Spanish Central: Translation of 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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