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
Known for surrealistic designs and sculptural shapes, Harri transformed mostly wide-leg jeans into optical illusions with through prints and gradients.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 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
Analysts later determined the object was likely a weather balloon and that the apparent velocity was an optical illusion caused by parallax.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 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
Analysts later determined the object was likely a weather balloon and that the apparent velocity was an optical illusion caused by parallax.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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Inspired by mirrors, which reflect reality while simultaneously generating illusion, the collection explored the tension between the two.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Her research examines people’s beliefs about what others think of them, including illusions and biases that can interfere with social connection, and interventions to improve people’s social lives.—
Maya Rossignac-Milon
Erica Boothby,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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While full generational improvement may be a pipe dream, the movie at least suggests the benefits of the modern urge to explore and expose.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These days, Maurice is said to appear as an apparition on the 14th floor.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
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In Good Boy, Indy investigates strange noises and ghostly apparitions in the remote country house.—
Laura Martin,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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