disillusion

play

noun dis·il·lu·sion \ ˌdis-ə-ˈlü-zhən \

Definition of disillusion

:the condition of being disenchanted :the condition of being dissatisfied or defeated in expectation or hope

suffered romantic disillusions

Recent Examples of disillusion from the Web

These contests will take place amid popular disillusion with politicians, caused partly by corruption.

— The Economist, "Latin America’s disappointing economic growth," 20 July 2017
Disillusion with the political class is one reason given for what is likely to be a record low participation rate that could outdo the record low in last Sunday’s first round, measured at 43 percent — five points lower than last week.

— sylvie corbet, The Denver Post, "President Emmanuel Macron’s party dominates French parliamentary vote," 18 June 2017
Sustained illusion thus becomes the best antidote to creeping disillusion.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "Breitbart News, Donald Trump’s Pravda, Is in Crisis," 15 June 2017
Euphoria has faded, and disappointment and disillusion have moved in.

— jeannette catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: ‘T2 Trainspotting’: Once Defiantly Wretched, Now Worn Down," 16 Mar. 2017

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

First Known Use of disillusion

1591

disillusion

verb

Definition of disillusion

disillusioned; disillusioning play \-ˈlü-zhə-niŋ\

transitive verb

:to free from illusion; also :to cause to lose naive faith and trust

The job disillusioned her about working in retail.

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disillusionment

play \-ˈlü-zhən-mənt\ noun

See disillusion defined for English-language learners

See disillusion defined for kids

Examples of disillusion in a Sentence

Working at that store for six months was enough to disillusion me about retail work.
we were disillusioned when we saw how the movie star acted in real life

Recent Examples of disillusion from the Web

Hinson’s role in legislative debates over school funding in recent years further disillusioned some members of the school community.

— david twiddy, kansascity, "While they search for a replacement, interim superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District will receive a raise," 28 June 2017
The unexpected event turned Glenn's life upside down and placed her among a growing number of buyers and sellers disillusioned by their dealings with the Indianapolis real estate business.

— tim evans and madeline buckley, Indianapolis Star, "‘Homeownership was a mirage’: How home buyers say their American dream became a nightmare," 25 June 2017
Amy Adams riveted audiences with performances in Arrival, as the linguist Dr. Louise Banks, and in Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, as Susan, an art gallerist disillusioned by her life choices.

— krista smith, VanityFair.com, "Behind the Scenes of Vanity Fair’s 2017 Hollywood Issue," 19 June 2017
Amy Adams riveted audiences with performances in Arrival, as the linguist Dr. Louise Banks, and in Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, as Susan, an art gallerist disillusioned by her life choices.

— krista smith, HWD, "Behind the Scenes of Vanity Fair’s 2017 Hollywood Issue," 19 June 2017
Disillusioned with the state of international affairs, Stockwell enrolled at San Jose State University to study political science.

— maria carter, Country Living, "The Man Who Changed a Generation's Perception of Succulents," 24 May 2017
Disillusioned with television in the U.S., Moore starred in The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) with Angie Dickinson and returned to England to make Romulus and the Sabines (1961), an Italian film about the founding of Rome.

— mike barnes & duane byrge, Billboard, "Roger Moore, Who Played James Bond the Longest, Dies at 89," 23 May 2017
Many Iranians are disillusioned by a slow-growing economy, which has seen only a limited boost since some international sanctions were lifted.

— erin cunningham, Washington Post, "Tehran mayor leaves Iran’s presidential race to back fellow conservative in bid to unseat Rouhani," 15 May 2017
Pelicans fans have long since grown exasperated by the losing, frustrated by the excuses and disillusioned by the seemingly endless spree of injuries.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "New Orleans Pelicans need change, even if it's not the head coach, general manager," 13 May 2017

First Known Use of disillusion

1855

disillusion Synonyms

Synonyms

disabuse, disenchant, undeceive

Related Words

sophisticate; advise, apprise, clue (in), fill in, wise (up); debunk, expose, refute, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; disclose, divulge, spill, tell, unveil

Near Antonyms

beguile, bluff, cozen, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, kid, misguide, misinform, mislead, misrepresent, snow, take in, trick

DISILLUSION Defined for English Language Learners

disillusion

verb

Definition of disillusion for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone) to stop believing that something is good, valuable, true, etc.

DISILLUSION Defined for Kids

disillusion

play

verb dis·il·lu·sion \ ˌdis-ə-ˈlü-zhən \

Definition of disillusion for Students

disillusioned; disillusioning

:to cause to stop having a mistaken belief that something is good, valuable, or true Let me disillusion you about the myth of George Washington's wooden teeth.

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