delude

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb delude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of delude are beguile, deceive, and mislead. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

When can beguile be used instead of delude?

The meanings of beguile and delude largely overlap; however, beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When is it sensible to use deceive instead of delude?

The words deceive and delude can be used in similar contexts, but deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

In what contexts can mislead take the place of delude?

While the synonyms mislead and delude are close in meaning, mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delude
Verb
  • Their book has already generated a national debate about whether the White House deceived the public about the president’s condition and how Biden’s late exit from the race undermined the Democratic Party’s chances of stopping a second term for President Trump.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
  • Although Bristol’s spring race may appear to have sparse crowds, this is somewhat deceiving.
    Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Don’t let the name fool you: Apple TV+’s new science-fiction series Murderbot isn’t actually about a rampaging robot killing everything in sight, though Alexander Skarsgard’s SecUnit certainly ponders the idea from time to time.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • One common jailbreak involved fooling ChatGPT by asking it to role-play as a different AI—one that had no rules and was allowed to write phishing e-mails.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Life at the house seems more entertaining, but is that just a foolish fantasy designed to trick us into thinking that there is safe harbor somewhere?
    Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
  • Their goal is to trick people into sharing their Medicare or Social Security number.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Delude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delude. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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