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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of illusions
Inside a mesmerising hall of mirrors inspired by Houdini's illusions, massages with seasonal Hungarian essential oils and rejuvenating mud wraps release any and all tension.
—
Cassie Doney, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
Her sister, Kali, has the power to create illusions, so the Eleven that everyone witnessed in her final moments could have been fake, and the real Eleven could have slipped away without being detected.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
José Daniel Ferrer’s life exposes the costs of indulging revolutionary illusions.
—Michael Lucchese, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
But as the season goes on, there should be no illusions about the challenges that remain.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Yet the Administration’s 28-point plan for Ukraine and the NSS should end any illusions that this approach is working.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
With Saturn conjunct Neptune in your seventh house, illusions fade and truth becomes unavoidable.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Iran’s success in securing this agreement was primarily the result of high turnout in the 2013 presidential election, which dispelled illusions in the United States and Europe about the imminent collapse of the Islamic Republic—illusions that dated to Iran’s post-2009 election unrest.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
There is no need to harbor romantic illusions about John Kennedy.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025
Cassie Doney, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
Her sister, Kali, has the power to create illusions, so the Eleven that everyone witnessed in her final moments could have been fake, and the real Eleven could have slipped away without being detected.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
José Daniel Ferrer’s life exposes the costs of indulging revolutionary illusions.
—Michael Lucchese, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
But as the season goes on, there should be no illusions about the challenges that remain.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Yet the Administration’s 28-point plan for Ukraine and the NSS should end any illusions that this approach is working.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
With Saturn conjunct Neptune in your seventh house, illusions fade and truth becomes unavoidable.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Iran’s success in securing this agreement was primarily the result of high turnout in the 2013 presidential election, which dispelled illusions in the United States and Europe about the imminent collapse of the Islamic Republic—illusions that dated to Iran’s post-2009 election unrest.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
There is no need to harbor romantic illusions about John Kennedy.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusions
Noun
-
Sadly, his college ball dreams didn’t come to fruition after the coach who called him up retired.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
But your kid with pro athlete dreams is likely not part of the 70%.—
Jonathan Carone,
Parents,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, mental health experts now warn that for a small group of vulnerable people, long and emotionally charged conversations with AI may worsen delusions or psychotic symptoms.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke said paralytic dementia symptoms can include delusions along with memory and language problems.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
House and Senate lawmakers’ conflicting visions for providing systemic property tax relief fell apart in 2025 as each chamber shot down the other’s constitutional amendment proposal.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Who knows what visions may lie ahead?—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This week’s challenge tests your memory of 21st-century books that were inspired by ancient myths, legends and folk tales.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Because of this rare condition, superstitions and myths have permeated certain African countries, both positive and negative.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And, once again, fantasies of surgical strikes are yielding to messy realities.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Ride a Luge Live out your Milan 2026 fantasies at Michigan's Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In other words, some of those 110-year-olds might just be clerical errors.—
Rachel Macpherson,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After months of harping on these errors in film study and practices, Kerr finally went to an unconventional method to inspire change.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Alas, my daydreams about adapting an essay from my collection into a limited series TV show turned out to be just that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
-
What about those perfect days and the daydreams that had sustained us?—
Michael Paterniti,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusions. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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