illusions
Tricks of sight
Illusions are things that appear to be something other than what they are.
An optical illusion tricks the eye into seeing what isn't there.
A magician creates illusions through sleight of hand.
More broadly, illusions are false beliefs or hopes: She had no illusions about her chances of winning.
To be under the illusion that something is true is to believe it mistakenly.
Atmospheric optical deception
- afterimageLingering visual impression
- distortionTwisting from original state
- refractionWave bending between media
- perspectiveAttitude or spatial rendering
anamorphosis · phosphenes · pareidolia · shimmer · double vision · floaters · blind spot · Escher
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- daydreamConscious fantasy while awake
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- pipe dreamUnrealistic aspiration
castle in the air · fool's paradise · utopia · will-o'-wisp · phantasm · figment · apparition · specter
Performing magical illusions
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
- sawingSlicing with toothed blade
escapology · Houdini · prestidigitation · misdirection · stage magic · card trick · disappearing act · transformation
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- shamFraudulent imitation
con · deceit · fake · forgery · counterfeit · impostor · charlatan · phony
Perception without external cause
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- cognitiveRelating to thinking
- sensoryRelated to perception
- synesthesiaInvoluntary sensory crossover
derealization · confabulation · false memory · projection · wishful thinking · self-deception · bias · misperception
Obsession with one's importance
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- delusions of grandeurFalse belief in superiority
- self-importanceExaggerated sense of significance
- egoOne's self-image
overestimation · hubris · inflated · superiority complex · messianic · grandiosity · omnipotence
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- afterimageLingering visual impression
- distortionTwisting from original state
- refractionWave bending between media
perspective · anamorphosis · phosphenes · pareidolia · shimmer · double vision · floaters · blind spot · Escher · trompe l'oeil
chimera
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- daydreamConscious fantasy while awake
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
pipe dream · castle in the air · fool's paradise · utopia · will-o'-wisp · phantasm · figment · apparition · specter · maya
conjuring
Performing magical illusions
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
sawing · escapology · Houdini · prestidigitation · misdirection · stage magic · card trick · disappearing act · transformation · cups and balls
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
sham · con · deceit · fake · forgery · counterfeit · impostor · charlatan · phony · masquerade
hallucination
Perception without external cause
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- cognitiveRelating to thinking
- sensoryRelated to perception
synesthesia · derealization · confabulation · false memory · projection · wishful thinking · self-deception · bias · misperception · paranoia
megalomania
Obsession with one's importance
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- delusions of grandeurFalse belief in superiority
- self-importanceExaggerated sense of significance
ego · overestimation · hubris · inflated · superiority complex · messianic · grandiosity · omnipotence
- magicwizard, wand, sorcerer, witchcraft, mage
- imaginary thingsfantasies, imaginary friends, imaginary worlds, make-believe, make believe
- visual perceptionpattern recognition, edge detection, figure-ground, gestalt, depth perception
- Altered Realitydreams, visions, mirages, hallucinations, daydreams
- Unrealitiesdreams, fantasies, hallucinations, delusions, mirages
- performance skillsmagic, sleight of hand, juggling, mime, singing
illusionsrealities
Things that exist
reality · actualities · facts · truths · hard facts
illusionstruths
Accurate statements about reality
facts · enlightenment · awareness · disillusionment · realizations
illusionsclear sight
clarity · lucidity · sharp focus · clear-sightedness · 20/20 vision
- optical illusionMisleading visual perception
- shattered illusions
- no illusions
- visual illusionMisperceived sensory input
- stage illusionsPerformed deceptions before audiences
- grand illusion
illusion, illusionist, illusionary, illusionists, illusionism