Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

delude

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of delude

to cause to believe what is untrue
  • We deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn't affect our diet.
Synonyms of delude

bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, deceive, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gull, have, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snow, spoof, string along, take in, trick
Words Related to delude

kid, put on, tease

bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, flam, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle
Phrases Synonymous with delude

do a number on, lead one down the garden path (also lead one up the garden path), pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes
Near Antonyms of delude

debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask

disclose, divulge, tell, unveil

disabuse, disenchant, disillusion
Antonyms of delude

undeceive

Synonym Discussion of delude

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.
    • tried to deceive me about the cost
mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.
    • I was misled by the confusing sign
delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.
    • we were deluded into thinking we were safe
beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.
    • was beguiled by false promises

Learn More about delude

  1. See words that rhyme with delude Dictionary: Definition of delude Medical Dictionary: Definition of delude Spanish Central: Translation of delude Nglish: Translation of delude for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of delude for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up delude? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games