as in illusions
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 illusions
Brief, startling moments of illumination are everywhere in its stories; so are all kinds of optical illusions and distortions.
—
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
What Schiaparelli observed in good faith, and Lowell in blind faith, were optical illusions caused by dust storms and the chance alignment of surface features like craters.
—David Kamp, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
Museum of Illusions, an international edutainment franchise, offers interactive optical illusions and sensory experiences.
—Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
What Schiaparelli observed in good faith, and Lowell in blind faith, were optical illusions caused by dust storms and the chance alignment of surface features like craters.
—David Kamp, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
Museum of Illusions, an international edutainment franchise, offers interactive optical illusions and sensory experiences.
—Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusions
Noun
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Any lingering illusions of a comeback ended five minutes later when Zaha cleverly drew a foul from the lunging Sergio Busquets, and the former Crystal Palace winger, the team’s regular penalty taker, generously handed Toklomati the chance for his hat trick.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Shatter your illusions of love?—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The idea that renewables alone can power the American economy is nonsense given the current technology, green pipe dreams notwithstanding.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Todd, the neighbor, even the strange apparitions are obfuscated simply because of their height, which adds to the eerieness of Indy’s experience but also makes Indy’s recognition of Todd’s voice all the more emotional.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
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Harker’s lonely investigations are often interrupted by jump scares courtesy of dark apparitions with the silhouettes of nesting dolls.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusions. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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