Delusion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈlü-zhən/ de·lu·sion

Meaning & Definition of Delusion

Delusion (noun)

  1. a false idea or belief
  2. a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also, the abnormal state marked by such beliefs
  3. the act of tricking or deceiving someone, the state of being deluded

Delusion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality

    "her idea that her new man is a long lost prince is surely just a delusion"

    similar: chimera, conceit, daydream, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, castle in Spain, castle in the air
    related: ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare
    near: actuality, fact, reality

  2. a false idea or belief

    "he appears to suffer from the delusion that he's the best reporter in the business"

    similar: error, fallacy, falsehood, falsity, hallucination, illusion, misbelief, misconception, myth, old wives' tale, untruth
    related: factoid, superstition, fiction, pretense, distortion, inaccuracy, misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misperception, misunderstanding, misinformation, misknowledge, misreport, misrepresentation, misstatement, sophism, sophistry, fib, half-truth, lie, story, tale
    opposite: truth, verity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Delusion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Delusion:

chimera, conceit, daydream, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, error, fallacy, falsehood, falsity, misbelief, misconception, myth, old wives' tale, untruth, castle in Spain, castle in the air

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Delusion

Words with the opposite meaning of Delusion:

truth, verity

Related Words for Delusion

ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare, factoid, superstition, pretense, distortion, inaccuracy, misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misperception, misunderstanding

Near Antonyms of Delusion

actuality, fact, reality

Word Forms of Delusion

Derived words: delusional (adjective), delusionary (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Delusion

Middle English dilusioun "deceit," borrowed from Late Latin dēlūsiōn-, dēlūsiō "trickery, deceiving," from Latin dēlūdere "to deceive, dupe" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action delude

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Delusion

Words & Phrases Containing Delusion

self-delusion, labor under a delusion/misapprehension/misconception

Frequently Asked Questions about Delusion

What does "Delusion" mean?

"Delusion" means a false idea or belief. As a noun, it is defined as: a false idea or belief. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Delusion"?

Other words for "Delusion" include chimera, conceit, daydream, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment and hallucination. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Delusion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Delusion"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Delusion". Common alternatives include chimera, conceit, daydream, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion and nonentity.

What is the opposite of "Delusion"?

Antonyms of "Delusion" include truth and verity. Near antonyms include actuality, fact and reality.

How do you use "Delusion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Delusion" in a sentence: "her idea that her new man is a long lost prince is surely just a delusion"; "he appears to suffer from the delusion that he's the best reporter in the business".

Is "Delusion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Delusion" is a noun.

Is "Delusion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Delusion" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Delusion"?

"Delusion" is pronounced /di-ˈlü-zhən/ and divided into syllables as de·lu·sion.