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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of illusions
Instead, Angine de Poitrine are more like Meshuggah or Dawn of Midi, establishing a meter and then creating rhythmic illusions using creative bursts of syncopation.
—
Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Their romance emerges alongside the dreamlike atmosphere of the mysterious circus, their illusions becoming a way to communicate with each other.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
With trap doors and illusions around every corner, the show is one of the most high-tech theatrical offerings in the city.
—Abraham Swee, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Advertisement In the Black Sea, confidence was built through information sharing and monitoring, not through illusions and expectations of good will.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
What’s more, conversations during illusions may still serve other benefits for both the performer and their audience.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
The next mayor will inherit an enormous burden on Day 1 with no room for illusions.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
But then, over the course of several viewings, new recognitions dawned—on the social contract, illusions of class, and the artist’s deft use of color in this gorgeous study of red, white, and blue.
—Laura Brown, Artforum, 25 Mar. 2026
Only hours into the conflict, an errant strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in southern Iran served as a gut-wrenching reminder of the cost of such illusions, and a testament to the grim truth that those who pay most dearly for the fog of war are almost always the innocent.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Their romance emerges alongside the dreamlike atmosphere of the mysterious circus, their illusions becoming a way to communicate with each other.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
With trap doors and illusions around every corner, the show is one of the most high-tech theatrical offerings in the city.
—Abraham Swee, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Advertisement In the Black Sea, confidence was built through information sharing and monitoring, not through illusions and expectations of good will.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
What’s more, conversations during illusions may still serve other benefits for both the performer and their audience.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
The next mayor will inherit an enormous burden on Day 1 with no room for illusions.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
But then, over the course of several viewings, new recognitions dawned—on the social contract, illusions of class, and the artist’s deft use of color in this gorgeous study of red, white, and blue.
—Laura Brown, Artforum, 25 Mar. 2026
Only hours into the conflict, an errant strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in southern Iran served as a gut-wrenching reminder of the cost of such illusions, and a testament to the grim truth that those who pay most dearly for the fog of war are almost always the innocent.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusions
Noun
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Still, India is pushing its aviation dreams, with Modi leading the charge.—
Aishwarya S Iyer,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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And many of these companies’ AI dreams are tied up in OpenAI, which just exited a massive deal with Disney to try to secure its place in Hollywood.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Such is the difference between playoff team with championship visions and play-in team with a potential off-ramp into the draft lottery.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Still, myths and misconceptions are persistent.—
Emily Maskell,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
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Ashland represents the culmination of a long journey exploring the magic of the American West and the myths that reside therein.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Attempts to resolve ecological responsibility through strict localism often risk sliding into cultural provincialism or nationalist enclosure—fantasies of purity that ignore how deeply entangled our lives already are.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Somehow, reality was even better than our fantasies.—
Lara Kramer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Giants totaled three hits and as many errors.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Fullerton took advantage of three errors to score four runs in the third inning on the way to a 5-2 win over Laguna Hills in an Empire League game Friday at Laguna Hills High.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
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Below, some of the finest, high-quality ruffled bedding around the web for creating the frothy bedscape of your daydreams.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusions. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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