as in pipe dream
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Recent Examples of will-o'-the-wisp
As the guitar-strumming will-o'-the-wisp Maria von Trapp, Julie Andrews taught us a few of her favorite things.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for will-o'-the-wisp
Noun
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At this point, making the playoffs outright is a pipe dream for the Trail Blazers.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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But again, Messi to MLS was once a pipe dream.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Here, the mirage dissolved just as quickly as it had been conjured.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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This does not disprove the studies on New York or New Jersey that showed the opposite, just as these do not prove that the phenomenon in California must be a mirage.—
Christopher Marquis,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Unveiling ignis fatuus: Microlightning between microbubbles.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Several sources say ignis fatuus, a spark of swamp gas, is the likely cause of the strange light.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
3 Mar. 2023
Noun
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Rather than stressing over social niceties, sitting in ornate carriages and snacking on cream cakes, Sophie daydreams while scrubbing floors and delivering tea.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
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What began as a food‑truck daydream shared by two longtime friends has become one of Iowa’s most beloved culinary success stories, one rooted in nostalgia and family.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Will-o'-the-wisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will-o%27-the-wisp. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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