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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of optical illusion
The Agafay Desert is an optical illusion.
—
Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The event will enable children ages 9-12 to explore optical illusions by experimenting with magnifying glasses and mirrors to bend light, create effects and use Oculus Quest VR headsets to brew potions, mix chemistry compounds and conjure creations.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion where the planet appears to move backward from Earth's perspective.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion that astrologers believe carries significant energetic influence.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The event will enable children ages 9-12 to explore optical illusions by experimenting with magnifying glasses and mirrors to bend light, create effects and use Oculus Quest VR headsets to brew potions, mix chemistry compounds and conjure creations.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion where the planet appears to move backward from Earth's perspective.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion that astrologers believe carries significant energetic influence.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
-
But as their profile rises, so do the risks, and the illusion proves increasingly difficult to maintain.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Jaden McDaniels isn’t worried about the illusion of respect.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most people would consider that to be a pipe dream, but Poulakidas didn’t.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The days of a potential merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour seem to be a pipe dream now, especially as LIV stars like Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed come back to their old roots.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those themes are alive here, as the ghosts who visit Depp’s Scrooge are intricate, terrifying apparitions not suitable for the whole family.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But he’s journeyed to Lourdes and Our Lady of Guadalupe, both of which the Vatican has officially recognized as supernatural Marian apparitions.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Workers will continue with smaller tasks around the facade, including the installation of chimeras that sit on the roofline, but the heavy lifting has been completed, Walter said.—
Dylan Lovan,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
