delusive

[ dih-loo-siv ]

adjective

1. tending to delude; misleading; deceptive:

   a delusive reply.

2. of the nature of a delusion; false; unreal:

   a delusive belief.

Other Words From

• de·lusive·ly adverb
• de·lusive·ness noun
• nonde·lusive adjective
• unde·lusive adjective
• unde·lusive·ly adverb
• unde·lusive·ness noun
• unde·luso·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delusive¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; delus(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

The fresh winds blew away desponding doubts, delusive fancies, and moody mists.

From Literature

Whether is it better, I ask, to be a slave in a fool’s paradise at Marseilles—fevered with delusive bliss one hour—suffocating with the bitterest tears of remorse and shame the next—or to be a village-schoolmistress, free and honest, in a breezy mountain nook in the healthy heart of England?

From Literature

Curious, we think, that Warner’s delusive hint of electoral troubles comes at a time when other Republican politicians - up to and including our president and governor - are railing against efforts by states to make wider use of mail-in paper ballots during a pandemic.

From Washington Times

His Willy, a salesman aggressively trapped in a delusive way of thinking, would rather die a martyr than admit to being sold a bill of goods about success.

From Los Angeles Times

“My delusive longing to sense some genuine vestige of this woman has culminated in the awareness that she’s no longer present anywhere, except in my imagination.”

From New York Times