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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illusion
Even when the illusion of a burning house was being presented, everything felt strangely serene… the most gentle version of pyromania ever.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
The illusion of math fluency The aforementioned performance gap between math problems and proofs exposes the difference between pattern recognition and genuine mathematical reasoning.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
On the other hand, the protocol gives the illusion to the general public that steps are being taken in the courthouse to prevent ICE overreach.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Analysts say Tuesday’s massacre shattered the illusion of calm that Modi has projected of the region and raises questions of how such a security lapse could have occurred in one of the most militarized zones in the world.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illusion
Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
The illusion of math fluency The aforementioned performance gap between math problems and proofs exposes the difference between pattern recognition and genuine mathematical reasoning.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
On the other hand, the protocol gives the illusion to the general public that steps are being taken in the courthouse to prevent ICE overreach.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Analysts say Tuesday’s massacre shattered the illusion of calm that Modi has projected of the region and raises questions of how such a security lapse could have occurred in one of the most militarized zones in the world.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusion
Noun
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Career experts agree dream jobs and large salaries don't always come right away.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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And the twist with Joe Jonas — well, that was a dream come true for me.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Crucially, these people are all masters of illusion, whereas the others are haunted by delusion.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2025
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Joe Spencer, one of Crusius' attorneys, said Crusius has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings, and has suffered from debilitating mental illness for most of his life.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Plus, that veil of fantasy keeps things from getting too serious.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
30 Apr. 2025
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Notes on Riley Quick, Henry Ford, as well as some top names for 2026 Concerning fantasy baseball 2025 performances from Roki Sasaki, Cody Bellinger and more Zack Meisel is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As for the myth, Rollo-Koster said eras in history when people relied on prophecies reveal a lack of control about their lives and deaths.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Why Decision-Making Is A Teachable Leadership Skill One of the most dangerous myths in leadership is that good decision-makers are born, not made.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Noun
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The vibe is at once sophisticated and irreverent—like an art collector’s home crossed with a Wes Anderson daydream.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
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Winners Visualize and Act Mindset without action is just a daydream.—
Stephen Nalley,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Last month, the Campaign Finance Board denied Cuomo’s request for nearly $3 million in public matching funds due to paperwork errors.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
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The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Noun
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This month will ask you to stay true to your vision while navigating outside obstacles with grace.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
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These shops are designed to complement the developer’s vision of enhancing NoDa’s walkable neighborhood charm.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But as with its aww-shucks hero, there’s more to it than meets the eye; something much stranger lurks behind the slight Twilight Zone unreality of its very movie-ish Midwest.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
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All those books teaching parents how to take care of their children—the first year, the first eighteen months, the first five or ten years—none of them addresses this difficulty: for parents and for children, the border between reality and unreality is not always clearly marked.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusion. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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