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
But our conversation ended up being so much about women and mothers generally, and how people in their lives create these illusions of normalcy and these illusions of perfection based on superficial stuff.
—
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026
Pay attention to what feels heavy or emotionally one-sided right now, because this transit isn’t here to keep up with illusions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
There is that moment where the illusions crumble, where the masks fall away and what follows is disappointment.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
And while an optimistic sort, El Tipo Este harbors few illusions.
—Bill Kopp, SPIN, 13 May 2026
The United States, searching for self-definition but loath to lose its illusions—its innocence—needed all of this as a counterpoint.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But while those are decent accomplishments for this iteration of the Boston Bruins, there were no illusions inside the locker room or with the coach about where this team is right now.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 3 May 2026
The point was to conform language to lies, to narrow the range of thought, to obscure the truth, and, over time, to get people to believe in illusions.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Archaeologists analyze the ancient painters’ creative use of the cave’s spatial definition to tell stories and create illusions of motion.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026
Pay attention to what feels heavy or emotionally one-sided right now, because this transit isn’t here to keep up with illusions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
There is that moment where the illusions crumble, where the masks fall away and what follows is disappointment.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
And while an optimistic sort, El Tipo Este harbors few illusions.
—Bill Kopp, SPIN, 13 May 2026
The United States, searching for self-definition but loath to lose its illusions—its innocence—needed all of this as a counterpoint.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But while those are decent accomplishments for this iteration of the Boston Bruins, there were no illusions inside the locker room or with the coach about where this team is right now.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 3 May 2026
The point was to conform language to lies, to narrow the range of thought, to obscure the truth, and, over time, to get people to believe in illusions.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Archaeologists analyze the ancient painters’ creative use of the cave’s spatial definition to tell stories and create illusions of motion.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 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,
1 June 2026
-
Samuel's mother, Nishae Samuel, previously described her son as cheerful and outgoing, with dreams of starting his own clothing line.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
In 19 conversations between humans and chatbots analyzed by researchers, interactions spun out of control when chatbots lacked critical feedback and intervention, failing to push back like an actual human would and validating delusions in the process.—
Lauren Fichten,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
One of the ways inflation can damage the economy is by prompting politicians to buy into economic delusions in response.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Can persuasive storytelling help Americans be more tolerant and accepting of those with different visions for what America ought to be?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The bathrooms are visions of black-and-white marble and black tile, appointed with dual-head showers and a brilliant stand-alone mirror that swivels to catch you at every angle.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Other myths, such as how tanning your perineum can boost energy and balance hormones, or how eliminating seed oils from your diet will protect you from the sun, have also fed into Gen Z tanning culture.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
In warmer climates, heat pumps operate more efficiently, but many of the same myths persist.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
These fantasies can all skew toward exclusionary extremism on the left and the right.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
-
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The Nationals have made more errors than anyone else in baseball.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
-
She was also hurt by three early errors.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
-
Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusions. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
