1
as in illusions
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
her idea that her new man is a long lost prince is surely just a delusion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in myths
a false idea or belief
he appears to suffer from the delusion that he's the best reporter in the business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of delusions
The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Furthermore, the therapist can ramp up or down the magnitude of the delusions.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The neuropsychiatric effects of Huntington's disease include mood changes and altered thinking, such as hallucinations and delusions.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
Its graphic clarity teems with ornament and glitter, visual intoxications that signal delusions and snares.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
The attacker, an African American woman named Izola Ware Curry, suffered from paranoid delusions and was found incompetent to stand trial for the crime.
—Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Reiner has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, similar mental health conditions that can involve delusions, paranoia, hallucinations and mood swings.
—Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Daniel’s delusions became nihilistic.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
However, the verdict was later reversed, and in July 2006, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury agreed with defense attorneys that the former nurse suffered from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis — a rare disorder that can cause delusions and hallucinations.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Furthermore, the therapist can ramp up or down the magnitude of the delusions.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The neuropsychiatric effects of Huntington's disease include mood changes and altered thinking, such as hallucinations and delusions.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
Its graphic clarity teems with ornament and glitter, visual intoxications that signal delusions and snares.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
The attacker, an African American woman named Izola Ware Curry, suffered from paranoid delusions and was found incompetent to stand trial for the crime.
—Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Reiner has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, similar mental health conditions that can involve delusions, paranoia, hallucinations and mood swings.
—Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Daniel’s delusions became nihilistic.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
However, the verdict was later reversed, and in July 2006, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury agreed with defense attorneys that the former nurse suffered from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis — a rare disorder that can cause delusions and hallucinations.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delusions
Noun
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Rybakina was under more scoreboard pressure in her service games, but Sabalenka’s opportunities were mostly illusions.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Saturn brings accountability, Neptune dissolves illusions and Aries demands action.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Emily Mendenhall traces the medical myths, gender bias, and neurological truths behind hysteria, one of history’s most damaging diagnoses.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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For me, the idea of folklore actively encourages us to be less precious with our myths and legends, which is antithetical to how we’re made to believe storytelling should be today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Virgo August 23 – September 22 When dreams collide with walls, craft a clear plan.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Reina’s attorney in a separate civil case wrote in a court filing that his client’s potential errors were unintentional and made in good faith.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Taxpayers rightly ask, are independent audits being properly performed and reviewed to prevent such errors?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mauritanian survivor Koumba Diabaté enacts a beat-for-beat recreation of his Casino Royale fantasies in the Imperial Sky Villa of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
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Now, with its fantasies of mass deportation, the British National Party was tapping into a four-hundred-year-old darkness.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Big claims without specifics, such as bold visions with no concrete examples.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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And even the ethical people have differing perspectives—hard-core utilitarians focus on suffering—and then there are people like me who have more ambitious visions.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Bob Weir, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, whose songs about sunshine daydreams and truckin’ helped turn the jam band into a 60-year musical empire, has died at age 78.—
Richard Gehr,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2026
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Alas, my daydreams about adapting an essay from my collection into a limited series TV show turned out to be just that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delusions. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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