self-deception
noun
self-de·cep·tion
ˌself-di-ˈsep-shən 
plural self-deceptions
: the act or an instance of deceiving oneself or the state of being deceived by oneself especially concerning one's true nature, feelings, etc.
the capacity for self-deception
Over time, [Henry] Marsh writes, many doctors start to internalize the stories they tell themselves about their superior judgment and skill. But the best, he adds, unlearn their self-deceptions, and come to accept their fallibility and learn from their mistakes.—
Jennifer Senior
Jennifer SeniorExamples of self-deception in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As the interrogation unfolds, Dave’s belief that he was framed by the State begins to unravel, blurring the line between truth, obsession and self-deception.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Of course, even that change contained a degree of self-deception.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Firms that do not use the tool risk become victims of self-deception by believing their own self-serving PR.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The key is to think of solutions while moving forward slowly, carefully and strategically rather than giving in to disappointment, loss or self-deception.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 15 June 2025
Grading for equity amounts to willful and moralized deception, including self-deception.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 May 2025
However: Pretense in foreign policy is not always the same thing as self-deception.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
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Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Of course, even that change contained a degree of self-deception.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Firms that do not use the tool risk become victims of self-deception by believing their own self-serving PR.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The key is to think of solutions while moving forward slowly, carefully and strategically rather than giving in to disappointment, loss or self-deception.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 15 June 2025
Grading for equity amounts to willful and moralized deception, including self-deception.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 May 2025
However: Pretense in foreign policy is not always the same thing as self-deception.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-deception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-deception. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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