ignis fatuus

noun

Definition of ignis fatuusnext
as in pipe dream

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ignis fatuus Several sources say ignis fatuus, a spark of swamp gas, is the likely cause of the strange light. — Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023 The story also helped explain ignis fatuus, a natural phenomenon that occurs in marshlands and bogs—such as those in Ireland’s countryside—producing flickering lights as gases from decomposing organic matter combust. — National Geographic, 27 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignis fatuus
  1. pipe dream
  2. mirage
  3. chimera
  4. will-o'-the-wisp
  5. delusion
  6. unreality
  7. daydream
Noun
  • Although Koerte believes Europe needs to develop greater AI capabilities, complete sovereignty remains a pipe dream.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • How could this kid from the cornfields of Illinois say no to that kind of pipe dream?
    — Robert Greenblatt, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of pipe dream
Noun
  • Now, the Raiders’ wins so far have come against the lowly Miami Dolphins, Chargers and New Orleans Saints, so this 3-0 start may turn out to be a bit of a mirage.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In the distance, a huge mobile crane, or some other piece of machinery, loomed, impossibly tall, shimmering in the air like a mirage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of mirage
Noun
  • The new era of worker power that labor advocates proclaimed as the pandemic ebbed was something of a chimera.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Mixed into a suspension of cellulose nanoparticles and then frozen, the customised chimera formed a flexible molecular skeleton that dramatically increases the tensile strength of the surrounding ice.
    — Mike McRae September 16, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of chimera
Noun
  • As the guitar-strumming will-o'-the-wisp Maria von Trapp, Julie Andrews taught us a few of her favorite things.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of will-o'-the-wisp
Noun
  • The Mayo Clinic defines the mental health condition as typically marked by hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Hill became increasingly paranoid and developed delusions that she was being surveilled.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of delusion
Noun
  • Subverting the unassuming realism of the city with the twisted unreality of this level design not only heightens the uncanny factor but also unlocks more design creativity.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • God is the infinite Mind that naturally causes each individual to know right from wrong, truth from untruth, and most importantly, reality from unreality.
    — Suzanne Riedel, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026
Definition of unreality
Noun
  • It's inspired by Snoopy's daydream of being the coolest beagle on campus.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The next day, Luwi had a similar daydream, but this time the disapproving patriarch was Gajdusek.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of daydream

Browse Nearby Words

ignes fatui
ignis fatuus
ignitable
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Cite this Entry

“Ignis fatuus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignis%20fatuus. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ignis fatuus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ignis fatuus

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