delusive
Apt to deceive
Delusive describes something that deceives or misleads through false impressions.
A delusive hope gives comfort but rests on illusion.
Delusive thinking mistakes fantasy for reality.
The word suggests not outright lies but subtle distortion—appearances that promise more than they deliver: The delusive calm before the storm gave no hint of the destruction to come.
Falsely appearing to exist
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
spurious · fallacious · sophistic · beguiling · deceitful · fraudulent · sham · bogus
Atmospheric optical deception
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
vision · trompe l'oeil · phantom · specter · will-o'-the-wisp · dreamlike · phantasmagoric · hallucinatory
Convincing yourself of falsehoods
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- confabulationInvented memories believed true
paranoia · grandiosity · fantasy · daydream · reverie · make-believe · unreality · dreamworld
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- insubstantialLacking physical or material substance
vaporous · airy · shadowy · intangible · gossamer · wispy · diaphanous · ethereal
illusory
Falsely appearing to exist
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
specious · spurious · fallacious · sophistic · beguiling · deceitful · fraudulent · sham · bogus · phony
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
chimera · vision · trompe l'oeil · phantom · specter · will-o'-the-wisp · dreamlike · phantasmagoric · hallucinatory · spectral
self-deception
Convincing yourself of falsehoods
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
confabulation · paranoia · grandiosity · fantasy · daydream · reverie · make-believe · unreality · dreamworld · castle in the air
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
insubstantial · vaporous · airy · shadowy · intangible · gossamer · wispy · diaphanous · ethereal · impermanent
delusivehonest
Free from deception
truthful · candid · forthright · frank · straightforward
delusivereliable
Consistently performing as expected
dependable · trustworthy · sound · solid · well-founded
- delusions of grandeurFalse belief in superiority
- mass delusionWidespread false belief shared socially
- shared delusionBelief transmitted between minds
- collective delusionWidespread acceptance of falsehood
- grandiose delusionsUnfounded beliefs of superiority
- The God DelusionArgument against theistic belief