delusion

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 Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about delusion

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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 Based on the comments the blog post inspired, supporters saw refreshing clarity and a hard line against political efforts from either the left or the right, while critics saw arrogance and delusion. — Lila Maclellan, Quartz at Work, "Can Coinbase ward off employee activism with its new hardline policy?," 30 Sep. 2020 Bonnie White LeMay, director of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, is under no delusion museums will rebound quickly. — Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, "‘We can remake ourselves’: South Florida’s art, science museums hope for a fall rebound," 26 Sep. 2020 The entire Trump mythology rests on a bubble of self-delusion. — Stephen Collinson, CNN, "A bubble of self-delusion in Washington," 22 Sep. 2020 Is disinformation its tendency toward self-delusion? — Meghan O'gieblyn, Wired, "Is the Internet Conscious? If It Were, How Would We Know?," 16 Sep. 2020 Years of straightening my hair into oblivion had me under the delusion that natural hair was just too much work. — Ashley Alese Edwards, Glamour, "43 Easy Natural Hairstyles You’ll Be Obsessed With," 11 Sep. 2020 The extraordinary avidity of the people kept up the delusion; and the higher the price of Indian and Mississippi stock, the more billets de banque were issued to keep pace with it. — Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, "The Capital Note: Dollars & Lumber," 1 Sep. 2020 What makes the book noteworthy is Woodward’s sad and subtle documentation of the ego, cowardice and self-delusion that, over and over, lead intelligent people to remain silent in the face of Trumpian outrages. — Rosa Brooks, Washington Post, "Woodward’s ‘Rage’ is a damning account of Trump’s cowering sycophants and enablers," 10 Sep. 2020 The Borowitz Report)—An outbreak hit the 2020 Republican National Convention this week as hundreds of attendees tested positive for delusion. — Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker, "Hundreds of R.N.C. Attendees Test Positive for Delusion," 26 Aug. 2020

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.

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Dictionary Entries near delusion

deluginous

de lunatico inquirendo

Statistics for delusion

Last Updated

8 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Delusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delusion. Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.

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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

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