as in delusion
a false idea or belief
the common misbelief that the Great Wall of China is visible from the moon
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Recent Examples of misbelief
Age Does Not Equate to a Rheumatic Disease Diagnosis
While a lot of rheumatic conditions are related to age, there is another misbelief that these conditions mostly affect older people and, as a result, are a product of getting older.
—
Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 7 July 2025
Her Daddy discourse is the misbelief that Harris (or any woman running for office) inherently has women’s votes in the bag and, thus, that candidate should spend their time on voters who are more on the fence.
—Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Combating misbelief is much more complicated—and politically and ethically fraught—than reducing the spread of explicitly false content.
—Jennifer Allen, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2024
Other misbeliefs and myths circulate: Some families believe that if a mother eats eggs during pregnancy that can bring on autism, and that boys typically miss developmental milestones so there shouldn't be a need to consult a physician in such cases.
—Scovian Lillian, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024
Wolter says the project has started to engage with human populations near vulture colonies, roosting sites and popular foraging areas, to educate communities on the benefits of the animal to local ecology, and dispel popular misbeliefs.
—Gertrude Kitongo, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
One common misbelief heard when legislation is discussed is that gender-affirming medical interventions are provided immediately to any trans or nonbinary kid who walks into a gender clinic.
—Helen Santoro, CBS News, 27 June 2023
Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 7 July 2025
Her Daddy discourse is the misbelief that Harris (or any woman running for office) inherently has women’s votes in the bag and, thus, that candidate should spend their time on voters who are more on the fence.
—Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Combating misbelief is much more complicated—and politically and ethically fraught—than reducing the spread of explicitly false content.
—Jennifer Allen, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2024
Other misbeliefs and myths circulate: Some families believe that if a mother eats eggs during pregnancy that can bring on autism, and that boys typically miss developmental milestones so there shouldn't be a need to consult a physician in such cases.
—Scovian Lillian, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024
Wolter says the project has started to engage with human populations near vulture colonies, roosting sites and popular foraging areas, to educate communities on the benefits of the animal to local ecology, and dispel popular misbeliefs.
—Gertrude Kitongo, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
One common misbelief heard when legislation is discussed is that gender-affirming medical interventions are provided immediately to any trans or nonbinary kid who walks into a gender clinic.
—Helen Santoro, CBS News, 27 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misbelief
Noun
-
Mania of the week Sophomania — a delusion of having superior intelligence or being exceptionally wise.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Hence my delight in the brief delusion of my own banning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If Çatak uses the accumulation of mundane details to portray the pressures on ordinary people, Alper uses the heightened language of myth and allegory to tell a story that nevertheless feels immediately recognizable as belonging to the present.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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With the myth of perfectly symmetrical eyebrows dispelled, let’s get into it.—
Lottie Winter,
Glamour,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Industry guidance from Innovative Toll Solutions says common errors include misread license plates, toll tags that aren’t properly registered, duplicate transactions, or system glitches.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Duran, who is in contention for a roster spot, had two iffy throws defensively in attempts to get a pair of speedy runners out, though neither were technically ruled an error.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The brightening and blurring properties come from bismuth oxychloride, a mineral that adds a light-reflecting luminous finish, and silicones that create the illusion of blurred skin.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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Class analysis remains difficult in the US because its absence allows for the illusion of exceptional individuals to prevail.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Johnson said the misconception that homelessness is primarily caused by mental illness concerned her.—
Lynne Hermansen,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
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These referendum questions are not inherently connected, which is a common misconception among residents, Zervis said.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbelief. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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