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
Museum of Illusions, an international edutainment franchise, offers interactive optical illusions and sensory experiences.
—
Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Keen on intricate tailoring and optical illusions, Dom Streater quickly became the geometric whiz of Project Runway.
—Henry Chandonnet, People.com, 31 July 2025
Instead, Burke had been fooled by a very convincing optical illusion.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
For a bronze glow, apply a thin layer straight down the center of your arms and legs for a beauty optical illusion that gives the appearance of length and smoothness.
—Marie Lodi, Allure, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Keen on intricate tailoring and optical illusions, Dom Streater quickly became the geometric whiz of Project Runway.
—Henry Chandonnet, People.com, 31 July 2025
Instead, Burke had been fooled by a very convincing optical illusion.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
For a bronze glow, apply a thin layer straight down the center of your arms and legs for a beauty optical illusion that gives the appearance of length and smoothness.
—Marie Lodi, Allure, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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Of course, such high-tech innovations, providing the illusion of a social environment, have both pluses and minuses.—
Alan Lightman
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
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Shatter your illusions of love?—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But then there’s a game like Sunday’s against the Saints, where the 49ers provided a clear, undeniable reminder that their unique philosophy isn’t a pipe dream, but rather a fully-functioning, if slightly-insane reality.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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Passive income that scales is a practical strategy, not a pipe dream.—
Justin Donald,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Zoo will be joined by a second new maze based on the Bloody Mary apparition who can be summoned by anyone who turns out the lights and says her name into a mirror three times.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
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Ahead of the 500-year anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Tepeyac, Mexico, the sculpture is embarking on a worldwide tour, with visits scheduled to Colombia, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, among other places.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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