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
The level of the equity market and the tightness of credit spreads may have created something of an optical illusion that all elements of the world are in a better place.
—
Hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Among the shoes were some fascinating hybrid designs which presented an optical illusion of sorts.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
This chevron pick creates an optical illusion underfoot to hide any dirt or debris.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours long on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that results in more daylight.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Among the shoes were some fascinating hybrid designs which presented an optical illusion of sorts.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
This chevron pick creates an optical illusion underfoot to hide any dirt or debris.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours long on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that results in more daylight.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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The video gives the illusion that the plane is cutting straight through the colorful arcs.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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That illusion was shattered Thursday when gambling and sports rigging schemes linked to the mob led to the arrests of 31 defendants, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, Damon Jones.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Expecting it to be now seems like a pipe dream.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
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Dozens of companies are now competing to make the world’s first viable humanoid robot, convinced that recent advances in AI have made what was once a pipe dream into achievable reality.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The store that kinda just appears one night in your local mall like an apparition only has a few months to make a year’s worth of revenue.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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These days, Maurice is said to appear as an apparition on the 14th floor.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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