Synonyms

deluded

American

[dih-loo-did] / dɪˈlu dɪd /

adjective

entertaining a false belief or opinion; mistaken or deceived in mind or judgment.

While some deluded commentators welcomed this as "fantastic news," the rest of us were seriously upset.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of delude.

Other Word Forms

nondeluded adjective
undeluded adjective
undeludedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of deluded

delude ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Are they bigots? Are they deluded in thinking that they are subjected to unfair competition?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

His direct, pragmatic approach has seduced voters, but has it deluded him into thinking that he has all the answers?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him say before the game, "we are in a good place at the moment".

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2025

Musk and Navarro, deluded as they may be, are self-anointed geniuses in specific areas of commerce, economics and technology.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2025

But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023