as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
delusive promises of high-paying jobs for low-skilled workers
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Recent Examples of delusive
This isn’t callousness or delusive optimism but, rather, a rebellion against the suffocating expectation that the elderly have foreclosed the possibility of joy.
—
Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024
To separate art from its historical framework is futile, and to reject it in an effort to censor past violence is a delusive act of virtue signaling.
—WSJ, 5 July 2022
Much of formal education over the past 50 years or so, especially in the humanities, has become a delusive exercise in mass evasion of this discomfiting truth.
—Tracy Lee Simmons, National Review, 15 Oct. 2020
Many less attractive traits are also recorded: Charles could be uncommunicative and dilatory, evasive and mendacious, refractory, vindictive, obstinate, even outright wicked, though self-delusive about the motives of others.
—R.j.w. Evans, The New York Review of Books, 11 June 2020
Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024
To separate art from its historical framework is futile, and to reject it in an effort to censor past violence is a delusive act of virtue signaling.
—WSJ, 5 July 2022
Much of formal education over the past 50 years or so, especially in the humanities, has become a delusive exercise in mass evasion of this discomfiting truth.
—Tracy Lee Simmons, National Review, 15 Oct. 2020
Many less attractive traits are also recorded: Charles could be uncommunicative and dilatory, evasive and mendacious, refractory, vindictive, obstinate, even outright wicked, though self-delusive about the motives of others.
—R.j.w. Evans, The New York Review of Books, 11 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delusive
Adjective
-
Some criticism has also focused on the film's marketing, which has been described as misleading.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This is technically true and profoundly misleading.—
Vikas Patel,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the class action suit, Rodriguez requested a jury trial, damages, restitution and injunctive relief to prevent Hollister from continuing to use its alleged deceptive pricing practices.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Samuel Nana Opoku, a resident of Fairfax County, Virginia, is facing charges of money laundering, felony theft by taking, five counts of identity fraud, and initiation of deceptive commercial email.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Naturally, Yuga Labs sued Ripps, and his partner Cahen, alleging false advertising, trademark infringement, and cybersquatting.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Because of this, Becerra is also facing a misdemeanor count of attempting to induce false testimony.—
Nicole Macias Garibay,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delusive. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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