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
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
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But then, over the course of several viewings, new recognitions dawned—on the social contract, illusions of class, and the artist’s deft use of color in this gorgeous study of red, white, and blue.—
Laura Brown,
Artforum,
25 Mar. 2026
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One abruptly gains social permission to behave just as mercifully—to go without the same illusion—to oneself.—
Caleb Crain,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Moving to Europe may feel like a pipe dream for many.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
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So that's kind of a pipe dream of mine.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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The story follows a young woman who regains consciousness after three years in a coma, only to be confronted by the apparition of her deceased sister, as their mother’s search for the truth behind the sister’s death gradually uncovers a dark hereditary secret stretching back centuries.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Look behind that curtain and see that the great and powerful Oz is a chimera.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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