1
as in dreams
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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 illusions
Rybakina was under more scoreboard pressure in her service games, but Sabalenka’s opportunities were mostly illusions.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Saturn brings accountability, Neptune dissolves illusions and Aries demands action.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Any illusions about protection and service are gone.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Saturn brings reality checks, boundaries, and long-term commitments, while Neptune dissolves illusions and asks for soul-level honesty.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
The creative team includes movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry and illusions by Jamie Harrison.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Reinvigorated by breaks away from the grid, the pair have points to prove and are under no illusions of the task that awaits.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The number of charges for her webs has been reduced by one at all levels, and Incapacitating Bite can no longer be applied by illusions.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, illusions that had lingered for decades collapsed.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Saturn brings accountability, Neptune dissolves illusions and Aries demands action.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Any illusions about protection and service are gone.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Saturn brings reality checks, boundaries, and long-term commitments, while Neptune dissolves illusions and asks for soul-level honesty.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
The creative team includes movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry and illusions by Jamie Harrison.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Reinvigorated by breaks away from the grid, the pair have points to prove and are under no illusions of the task that awaits.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The number of charges for her webs has been reduced by one at all levels, and Incapacitating Bite can no longer be applied by illusions.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, illusions that had lingered for decades collapsed.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusions
Noun
-
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Virgo August 23 – September 22 When dreams collide with walls, craft a clear plan.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Furthermore, the therapist can ramp up or down the magnitude of the delusions.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Big claims without specifics, such as bold visions with no concrete examples.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
And even the ethical people have differing perspectives—hard-core utilitarians focus on suffering—and then there are people like me who have more ambitious visions.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Emily Mendenhall traces the medical myths, gender bias, and neurological truths behind hysteria, one of history’s most damaging diagnoses.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For me, the idea of folklore actively encourages us to be less precious with our myths and legends, which is antithetical to how we’re made to believe storytelling should be today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mauritanian survivor Koumba Diabaté enacts a beat-for-beat recreation of his Casino Royale fantasies in the Imperial Sky Villa of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Now, with its fantasies of mass deportation, the British National Party was tapping into a four-hundred-year-old darkness.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Reina’s attorney in a separate civil case wrote in a court filing that his client’s potential errors were unintentional and made in good faith.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Taxpayers rightly ask, are independent audits being properly performed and reviewed to prevent such errors?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Shortly after, the book began to take shape, with new elements often arriving in vivid daydreams and eerie nightmares.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
And like the iconic Orient-Express (whose original route has been revived by Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express), the Champagne flutes, suited servers, and glossy design of this locomotive hold a seductive potential for daydreams and drama.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusions. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
