under the illusion
idiom
: having a mistaken belief about something
He was under the illusion that he was a good player.
Examples of under the illusion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, successive American presidents have entered office and engaged with Russia under the illusion that personal relationships with Russia’s leaders, mutual economic interest and appeasement of Russian demands would transform Russia’s role in the world.
—
Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In a world that had grown accustomed to relatively stable and secure energy markets and was under the illusion that the clean energy transition would neutralize energy geopolitics, the return of the energy weapon has caught many by surprise.
—Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Israel continues to prove itself reckless and destructive, and the administration shouldn’t be under the illusion that Gulf leaders will forget America’s role in the chaos.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Many defer their planning, under the illusion of having more time or viewing the rewards of preparation as a distant concern not worth prioritizing today.
—Harsh Patel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Anyone still laboring under the illusion that this is a populist administration needs to understand that ‘for the people’ means ‘only some of the people,’ usually the millionaires and billionaires.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2025
For decades, leadership operated under the illusion that the world moved in straight lines.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
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Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In a world that had grown accustomed to relatively stable and secure energy markets and was under the illusion that the clean energy transition would neutralize energy geopolitics, the return of the energy weapon has caught many by surprise.
—Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Israel continues to prove itself reckless and destructive, and the administration shouldn’t be under the illusion that Gulf leaders will forget America’s role in the chaos.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Many defer their planning, under the illusion of having more time or viewing the rewards of preparation as a distant concern not worth prioritizing today.
—Harsh Patel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Anyone still laboring under the illusion that this is a populist administration needs to understand that ‘for the people’ means ‘only some of the people,’ usually the millionaires and billionaires.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2025
For decades, leadership operated under the illusion that the world moved in straight lines.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Under the illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20the%20illusion. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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