self-delusion
noun
self-de·lu·sion
ˌself-di-ˈlü-zhən 
-dē-
plural self-delusions
1
: the act of deluding oneself or the state of being deluded by oneself especially concerning one's true nature, abilities, feelings, etc.
My god-given talent for self-delusion keeps me believing that the increasing amount of time I spend alone is of my own choice …—
Matthew Ritger
Matthew RitgerThey know what they are doing is wrong. And it's our job to remind them of it. Because when we don't continually remind them, people devolve into self-delusion.—Jessica Valenti
Jessica Valenti2
: a delusion that one has concerning oneself
… a star of immense talent who harbored no self-delusions.—Eric Marchese
Eric MarcheseExamples of self-delusion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Such lack of vision — or ample self-delusion — propelled Americans to disaster in Iraq, even with some competent advisers in the White House.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
Huang’s comments may one day be remembered as the peak of the AI bubble—the classic moment that occurs in every bubble when hubris and self-delusion overtake common sense.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The scene holds humor, tension, resentment, backstory, shifting alliances, self-delusion, choreography of bodies, and the revelation of interior truths.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
This kind of self-delusion is a good thing.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Robyn looks and frequently sounds like Saoirse-Monica Jackson, youthful ambitions sharpened into frustrated self-delusion.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Still, the dinner is an unpleasant study in power and self-delusion.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026
But a little self-delusion is half the fun and, in many cases, the only way the work ever gets started.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Werther, in his self-delusion, embodies another Goethean type, the longing man—ordinary, but convinced of the extraordinariness of his feelings.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
Huang’s comments may one day be remembered as the peak of the AI bubble—the classic moment that occurs in every bubble when hubris and self-delusion overtake common sense.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The scene holds humor, tension, resentment, backstory, shifting alliances, self-delusion, choreography of bodies, and the revelation of interior truths.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
This kind of self-delusion is a good thing.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Robyn looks and frequently sounds like Saoirse-Monica Jackson, youthful ambitions sharpened into frustrated self-delusion.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Still, the dinner is an unpleasant study in power and self-delusion.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026
But a little self-delusion is half the fun and, in many cases, the only way the work ever gets started.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Werther, in his self-delusion, embodies another Goethean type, the longing man—ordinary, but convinced of the extraordinariness of his feelings.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-delusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-delusion. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
