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.
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Recent Examples of optical illusion
Rag & Bone’s revolutionary printing technique, Miramar, creates an optical illusion that makes any material look like denim.
—
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
On social media, it’s been described as grandma’s bathroom tile floor, an optical illusion and a magic eye poster.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
These optical illusion pants are made from a supersoft sweatpant-like material that’s screen-printed with denim details.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
Here’s to 10 years of optical illusions, internet magic, and unforgettable moments!
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
On social media, it’s been described as grandma’s bathroom tile floor, an optical illusion and a magic eye poster.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
These optical illusion pants are made from a supersoft sweatpant-like material that’s screen-printed with denim details.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
Here’s to 10 years of optical illusions, internet magic, and unforgettable moments!
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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This city will never be the same, insofar as our sense of safety, our illusions of permanence and so on, are gone.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Mat previously impressed judges on America’s Got Talent in 2014 with his magic, illusions and card tricks.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Olga and Antoine’s grand schemes of rural regeneration have proved to be a lefty pipe dream.—
Bartolomeo Sala,
The Dial,
27 Mar. 2025
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While federal banking reform was a step forward, full legalization remains a pipe dream.—
Matt Rozo,
The Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But Evan Mobley fills those margins with his apparitions of length.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Of the Marian apparitions the Church has confirmed, a remarkable number were received by children or adolescents.—
Emily Harnett,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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