Synonyms for illusion
Most common
magic magic trick deception self-deception delusion mirage myth fantasy
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Deception
deception, trick, self-deception, magic, magic trick, enchantment, conjuring trick, legerdemain, subtlety, conjuration, thaumaturgy
2. Delusion — the state of being deceived or misled
delusion, mirage, phantasm, hallucination, vision, phantom, chimera, apparition, imagery
3. Myth — A misapprehension; a belief in something that is in fact not true
myth, fallacy, misapprehension, misconception, aberration, error, misbelief
4. Fantasy
Other
semblance, head game, dweomercraft rare
Definitions
- n. 1
A misapprehension; a belief in something that is in fact not true.
Jane has this illusion that John is in love with her.
- n. 2
The state of being deceived or misled.
- n. 3
A distortion of sensory perception where real stimuli lead to a false or misleading impression of reality.
Using artificial additives, scientists can create the illusion of fruit flavours in food.
- n. 4
A magician’s trick.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- illusions → deceptions, tricks, self-deceptions, magics…
Choose the right word
A delusion is a mistaken conviction, an illusion a mistaken perception or inference. An illusion may be wholly of the senses; a delusion always involves some mental error.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- magic He amused the children by showing them some magic.
- deception She was aware of his propensity towards deception.
- delusion That girl's under the delusion that she's a princess.
- mirage A permanent job is a mirage for today's youth.
By length
- 4 letters
- myth1
- 5 letters
- dream1, magic2, trick1, error2, fancy2
- 6 letters
- vision2, mirage2
- 7 letters
- fantasy3, phantom2, imagery3, fallacy3, chimera3
- 8 letters
- delusion3, subtlety3, phantasm3
- 9 letters
- deception3, semblance2, misbelief
- 10 letters
- aberration4, apparition4
- 11 letters
- imagination5, enchantment3, conjuration, legerdemain4, thaumaturgy
- 12 letters
- dweomercraft
- 13 letters
- misconception4, hallucination5
- 15 letters
- misapprehension5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (magic2 = 2 syllables).