delusory

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de·lu·so·ry

 (dĭ-lo͞o′sə-rē, -zə-)
adj.
Tending to deceive; delusive.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.delusory - causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true; "deceptive calm"; "a delusory pleasure"
unreal - not actually such; being or seeming fanciful or imaginary; "this conversation is getting more and more unreal"; "the fantastically unreal world of government bureaucracy"; "the unreal world of advertising art"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

delusory

adjective
1. Tending to deceive; of the nature of an illusion:
2. Tending to lead one into error:
3. Of, relating to, or in the nature of an illusion; lacking reality:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
It mattered not whether she were angel or demon; he was irrevocably within her sphere, and must obey the law that whirled him onward, in ever-lessening circles, towards a result which he did not attempt to foreshadow; and yet, strange to say, there came across him a sudden doubt whether this intense interest on his part were not delusory; whether it were really of so deep and positive a nature as to justify him in now thrusting himself into an incalculable position; whether it were not merely the fantasy of a young man's brain, only slightly or not at all connected with his heart.
Yet Lady Philosophy's vision also invites the more cynical critique that Boethius indulges a kind of self-therapy, a delusory mind game in which he paints black the world of human action in order to retain sanity and poise under persecution.
He branded as "dubious and delusory" China's alibi on the sinking the F/B Gim-Ver1 and attempted mass killing of 22 Filipino fishermen.
Hence his dilemma--how to distinguish concrete, meaningful revelation from delusory nonsense when the experiences with the strongest aura of significance are the least to be trusted?
In addition, the pessimistic critique conveyed by sound is affirmed by those poems--such as "The Evening" and "To Silvia"--in which various sounds, but very often lonely songs, instigate reflections on the delusory nature of the world.
The prospect of "quick and simple" trade deals outside the EU is now recognised as delusory, particularly with Trump's protectionist US and Xi Jinping's China.
Nick Sleman epitomised the delusory pace with just 10 from 22 balls before he nicked Jamie Porter low to Vrun Chopra at first slip.
Absent this reasonable assumption, there is cognitive space for a delusory, reckless driver to hide from the obvious conclusion that the risk being assumed is too high given the usual aversion to death.
The story is flensed of delusory cellulite -- sentimental cultural tropes like religious belief, familial affection or loyalty -- as though the characters have retained the materialist habit of socialism but abandoned any trace of social responsibility in favor of strict egoism.
Peace and reconciliation may appear as delusory goals in the current environment of international debates, where "ethnic cleansing" and even "genocide" are widely accepted as proper descriptors of the recent events.
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