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
In 19 conversations between humans and chatbots analyzed by researchers, interactions spun out of control when chatbots lacked critical feedback and intervention, failing to push back like an actual human would and validating delusions in the process.
—
Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 28 May 2026
One of the ways inflation can damage the economy is by prompting politicians to buy into economic delusions in response.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 24 May 2026
Moore is the grating living embodiment of the delusions of the managerial-artistic class.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
By the novel’s end, the mark of his satire broadens even further, beyond American culture to the persistent delusions of human consciousness itself.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Much the same could be said of Amalia’s esoteric delusions.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Concerns have grown over the potential for AI chatbots to fuel delusions in people, especially those who are already vulnerable to mental health problems.
—Laura Jarrett, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression, mania and a milder form of mania called hypomania, per the Mayo Clinic.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
As awareness of the issue of AI delusions increases, safer models are helping establish a new baseline for the industry.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 28 May 2026
One of the ways inflation can damage the economy is by prompting politicians to buy into economic delusions in response.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 24 May 2026
Moore is the grating living embodiment of the delusions of the managerial-artistic class.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
By the novel’s end, the mark of his satire broadens even further, beyond American culture to the persistent delusions of human consciousness itself.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Much the same could be said of Amalia’s esoteric delusions.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Concerns have grown over the potential for AI chatbots to fuel delusions in people, especially those who are already vulnerable to mental health problems.
—Laura Jarrett, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression, mania and a milder form of mania called hypomania, per the Mayo Clinic.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
As awareness of the issue of AI delusions increases, safer models are helping establish a new baseline for the industry.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delusions
Noun
-
But our conversation ended up being so much about women and mothers generally, and how people in their lives create these illusions of normalcy and these illusions of perfection based on superficial stuff.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
-
Pay attention to what feels heavy or emotionally one-sided right now, because this transit isn’t here to keep up with illusions.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Other myths, such as how tanning your perineum can boost energy and balance hormones, or how eliminating seed oils from your diet will protect you from the sun, have also fed into Gen Z tanning culture.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
In warmer climates, heat pumps operate more efficiently, but many of the same myths persist.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
My husband, inspired by the radio dramas of his childhood, planned the trek with dreams of celebrating, if not re-creating, history.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The Nationals have made more errors than anyone else in baseball.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
-
She was also hurt by three early errors.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
These fantasies can all skew toward exclusionary extremism on the left and the right.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
-
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Can persuasive storytelling help Americans be more tolerant and accepting of those with different visions for what America ought to be?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The bathrooms are visions of black-and-white marble and black tile, appointed with dual-head showers and a brilliant stand-alone mirror that swivels to catch you at every angle.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
-
Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delusions. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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