delusional
Lost in fantasy
Delusional describes someone holding beliefs that persist despite clear evidence to the contrary.
In psychiatry, delusions are fixed false beliefs symptomatic of psychosis.
In everyday use, delusional is looser—applied to anyone whose thinking seems divorced from reality: He's delusional if he thinks she's coming back.
The word often carries dismissive force: That's completely delusional.
Not guided by reason
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- absurdWildly illogical
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
- unfoundedWithout factual support
baseless · groundless · unrealistic · misguided · detached · unhinged · disconnected · deranged
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
dissociation · delirium · grandiosity · persecutory · megalomania · erotomania · schizoaffective · antipsychotic
Erroneous belief or understanding
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- misbeliefFalse notion held true
- distortionTwisting from original state
misperception · confabulation · denial · rationalization · misinterpretation · unreality · fantasy · make-believe
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
cover-up · plot · scheme · infiltration · paranoia · distrust · threat · enemy
Exaggerated sense of importance
- megalomaniaObsession with one's importance
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- omnipotenceUnlimited universal power
inflated · self-importance · entitlement · savior · special · destined · invincible · genius
Imagined or prophetic sights
- voicesSounds producing speech
- apparitionsSupernatural visible manifestations
- phantomsApparitions, especially illusory
- figmentsInvented mental constructs
hallucinating · mirages · specters · phantasms · imaginary · projections · episodes
unreasonable
Not guided by reason
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- absurdWildly illogical
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
unfounded · baseless · groundless · unrealistic · misguided · detached · unhinged · disconnected · deranged · unbalanced
psychosis
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
hallucination · dissociation · delirium · grandiosity · persecutory · megalomania · erotomania · schizoaffective · antipsychotic · committed
misconception
Erroneous belief or understanding
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- misbeliefFalse notion held true
distortion · misperception · confabulation · denial · rationalization · misinterpretation · unreality · fantasy · make-believe · misjudgment
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
surveillance · cover-up · plot · scheme · infiltration · paranoia · distrust · threat · enemy · targeted
grandiosity
Exaggerated sense of importance
- megalomaniaObsession with one's importance
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
omnipotence · inflated · self-importance · entitlement · savior · special · destined · invincible · genius · visionary
visions
Imagined or prophetic sights
- voicesSounds producing speech
- apparitionsSupernatural visible manifestations
- phantomsApparitions, especially illusory
figments · hallucinating · mirages · specters · phantasms · imaginary · projections · episodes
- insanityinsane, crazy, mad, lunatic, insanity
- madnessmadness, lunacy, insanity, mania, schizophrenia
- psychobabbletriggered, gaslighting, toxic, trauma bond, narcissist
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- mental statesknowledge, conscious, mood, anxious, memory
- conditionsmedical condition, weather conditions, environmental conditions, living conditions, working conditions
delusionallucid
Mentally sharp and comprehensible
clear-headed · clear-sighted · grounded · rational · sane
delusionalsane
Mentally healthy, clearheaded
stable · well-adjusted · balanced · unneurotic · sound
delusionalrealistic
True to life
pragmatic · down-to-earth · objective · hard-headed · sober
- delusions of grandeurFalse belief in superiority
- delusional disorderPsychiatric condition featuring persistent false beliefs
- mass delusionWidespread false belief shared socially
- shared delusionBelief transmitted between minds
- collective delusionWidespread acceptance of falsehood
- grandiose delusionsUnfounded beliefs of superiority