1
as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
the magician specializes in creating illusions, so that people believe they have seen something when they really haven't
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delusion
a false idea or belief
he had no illusions about how much effort and money the renovation project would require
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illusion
Sometimes forward progress is its own illusion.
—
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Career and identity can feel shrouded in illusion.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
At Oxford, that illusion was everywhere.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Even though Netherworld Haunted House is pure theatrical illusion, your body doesn’t quite know that.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illusion
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Career and identity can feel shrouded in illusion.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
At Oxford, that illusion was everywhere.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Even though Netherworld Haunted House is pure theatrical illusion, your body doesn’t quite know that.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusion
Noun
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OpenAI and Amazon announced Monday that the former will pay the latter $38 billion over seven years for computing capacity to fuel its AI dreams.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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The week, which had started with the dream of connection and romance, deteriorated into both of us going through the motions—and not all that well.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sharon’s final delusions about Beryl are put to rest as she’s placed under arrest, and Donnelly tests out a draft of her case report on Elsbeth.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
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The delusion worked wonderfully.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Much has been said about Bella's plain-Jane persona, but Stewart's earnest performance vivifies the character with a plucky yet lovesick duality that also grounds the film's lofty fantasy sequences.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Daily fantasy players can sign up with Sleeper promo code NEWSWEEKXL and lock in deposit bonuses.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Foundation Rock also highlights her relationship with other protective deities, consistently linking her power to myths and the spiritual undertone of water.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
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Pitting vengeful ghosts against a backdrop of a supernatural love story, the film charmingly plays with genre to question how history and myth can probe collective and socio-political grief.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jennifer Smith Richards reports on why the rise of Christian nationalism in Oklahoma schools models the far-right’s vision for education in America.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this year, the team decided to rebrand, choosing a name more in keeping with the brand's vision – and Fold was born.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The defence remains porous, error-prone and vulnerable on corners.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Times’ error immediately garnered write-ups in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and other outlets.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In pieces on patriotism as a kind of madness, on the long history of Polish and Russian colonizations and cultural appropriations of Ukraine, on the ways communities fantasize and share their daydreams, and others, Janion creates wormholes between past and present.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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Weston Cloud Modular Sectional Sofa Sinking into cloud-like comfort is no longer a far-off daydream: The Weston Cloud Sofa's plush cushions provide a lavish experience ideal for relaxing after a long day.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
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Longtime Vogue readers can likely recognize Steven Klein’s photographs at a glance, what with their glaring colors, arresting compositions, and beguiling sense of unreality.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusion. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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