as in illusion
an image that tricks a person's vision
Some may dismiss what we witnessed that night as an optical illusion, but we firmly believe it was a UFO.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 optical illusion
In visual art, from Byzantine painting up through Renaissance painting, artists actually attempted to physically reproduce perspective, or at least an optical illusion of it.
—
Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
Think of hair microblading as an optical illusion, just like eyebrow microblading.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
In small spaces, a glass or acrylic coffee table can provide an optical illusion, taking up minimal visual real estate while still giving you a surface to set down a drink or burn your favorite candle.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 5 Jan. 2026
There was some kind of optical illusion happening: Many people saw it as blue and black; others as white and gold.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
Think of hair microblading as an optical illusion, just like eyebrow microblading.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
In small spaces, a glass or acrylic coffee table can provide an optical illusion, taking up minimal visual real estate while still giving you a surface to set down a drink or burn your favorite candle.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 5 Jan. 2026
There was some kind of optical illusion happening: Many people saw it as blue and black; others as white and gold.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
-
More than a month into open confrontation between Iran, the United States, Israel, and now parts of the Arab Gulf, the illusion of a quick and decisive conflict has collapsed.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
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
Noun
-
Building alternative pipelines to relieve a global chokepoint is no pipe dream.—
John Spencer,
Washington Post,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Years back, a Tentsile tent light enough for unencumbered backpacking or bikepacking seemed little more than a pipe dream.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Acosta’s bright shapes could be seen as apparitions of a sort.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For example, the apparition of his first wife, Grace Shelby (Annabelle Wallis), appeared a handful times in season five.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Workers will continue with smaller tasks around the facade, including the installation of chimeras that sit on the roofline, but the heavy lifting has been completed, Walter said.—
Dylan Lovan,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than a somewhat normal for Hollywood bakeoff, Paramount plans to kind of smush the two scripts together into one IP chimera.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
