1
as in fantasies
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 delusions
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
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Recent Examples of illusions
Not even Trump can have any illusions now.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Eclipses bring truth to the surface, so don’t cling to illusions.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 31 Aug. 2025
The creative team includes movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music and arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, and illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Small lights pointed at the audience also help to obscure what’s happening onstage, so guests can’t see beyond the illusions.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The Ecoright has no illusions about the seriousness of climate change.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Roterberg’s private performance will then run for two hours with live music, illusions, comedy and storytelling, with magicians performing both tableside and on the main stage.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
Maybe some harbor illusions of being able to play.
—Kevin Acee, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Any remaining illusions were shattered.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Eclipses bring truth to the surface, so don’t cling to illusions.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 31 Aug. 2025
The creative team includes movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music and arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, and illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Small lights pointed at the audience also help to obscure what’s happening onstage, so guests can’t see beyond the illusions.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The Ecoright has no illusions about the seriousness of climate change.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Roterberg’s private performance will then run for two hours with live music, illusions, comedy and storytelling, with magicians performing both tableside and on the main stage.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
Maybe some harbor illusions of being able to play.
—Kevin Acee, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Any remaining illusions were shattered.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusions
Noun
-
Season 2 once again explores the consequences of turning fantasies into reality in suburban Britain.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
From cozy, whimsical fantasies to historical fiction and horror, this guide to August’s brightest new releases has something for everyone.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Often, mental health experts see a change in delusions when new technologies are developed.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
For an in-depth look at AI psychosis and especially the co-creation of delusions via human-AI collaboration, see my recent analysis at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The aforementioned masks, for instance, hasten strange visions for Blakey, but the film’s hard boundary between his dreams and waking life sap these sequences of all tension.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While most technology leaders have done their fair share to dispel these myths in favor of AI’s transformative potential, concerns of misinformation, security vulnerabilities and unpredictability still hum beneath the unstoppable swell of AI innovation.—
Monish Darda,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Without clear evidence, myths persist — and athletes hesitate.—
Starre Vartan,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Everyone who shows up to his office tries to make one of his dreams come true.—
Debbie Day,
EW.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Podium or not, Larsen is looking to the future with one audience on her mind — young girls with dreams of getting into motorsport.—
Spencer Whaley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other discipline errors snowballed after that.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Alcaraz finished with 30 unforced errors, the same total as his opponent.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ellen retreats to her room and daydreams of her father, who understood his headstrong daughter.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
In the Netflix dramedy Too Much, a brokenhearted American, Jess, makes the move across the pond, inspired in part by daydreams of stately castles, rolling green hills and dashing gentlemen professing their ardent admiration.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusions. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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