Synonym Chooser

How does the noun illusion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of illusion are delusion, hallucination, and mirage. While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.

an illusion of safety

When is delusion a more appropriate choice than illusion?

While the synonyms delusion and illusion are close in meaning, delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.

delusions of persecution

When could hallucination be used to replace illusion?

In some situations, the words hallucination and illusion are roughly equivalent. However, hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.

suffered from terrifying hallucinations

When might mirage be a better fit than illusion?

The words mirage and illusion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.

claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

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 illusion Zelenskyy and European officials have no illusions about U.S. troops taking part in such a mission. Jill Lawless and Aamer Madhani The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025 From Loewe, whose ultra short mini dresses added a sporty feel to bright and bold blue tones, to Prada, where clever knitwear gave the illusion of a sporty polo top styled under a V-neck (two for the price of one!), primary colours came in hot. Libby Page, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025 The wide-leg fit also contributes to the illusion, but that’s where any relation to denim stops. Melony Forcier, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025 For instance, dating apps create the illusion that someone better is always just a swipe away, making commitment feel risky. Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusion
Noun
  • The sweetness of growing into a man whose dreams— like leaves or a bird’s nest— came to life.
    Henri Cole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Soraya excels in science and math, and dreams of becoming a doctor an accountant.
    Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Leigh used every moment, every expression, to tell Blanche's story and to illustrate her torment, her delusion, and her desire for affection.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • This fact of life discomforts those who refuse to accept the existence of consequences and the politicians whose careers thrive on the delusion that compromise is for the weak.
    Noah Rothman, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • An arena spectacle with WWE auras is unusual for Dungeons & Dragons, the famously nerdy tabletop game of fantasy heroics and lucky (or unlucky) rolls of dice.
    Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The fantasy relevance for tight ends as slow as Helm just isn’t there.
    Steve Bradshaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This is the foundational myth that sustains a tendency towards intellectual tyranny.
    Jacob Hale Russell, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And Patton’s memorable opening speech hints at the film’s hesitancy about turning men into myths.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition (March 25) takes a wary view of its own contents, which span half a millennium, arguing that the West acted out its daydreams of a docile Orient one cup-and-saucer at a time.
    Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
  • If Viner and Rickman's selections are representative, Corrie was a compelling diarist, writing a blend of idealism, daydream and detailed observation.
    Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • The pressure to manage heavy caseloads, navigate complex legal systems and meet client demands often leaves little room for error (or rest).
    Raquel Gomes, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • That's detected by the cerebellum, and its goal is to minimize that error signal.
    Tim Stevens, Ars Technica, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Structural changes in the brain, blurry vision, and, in some cases, permanent eyesight changes.
    Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2025
  • But in Mulligan’s vision, a secret parallel world is teeming between the cracks of concrete.
    Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Conor’s passionately absorbing, poignantly observed self-refraction from individuality into idiosyncrasy lends his very reality an air of unreality.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The unreality of the present moment should be a boon for artists and all who deal in the imagination.
    Dean Kissick, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusion. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on illusion

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