DELUDED Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

deluded 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of deluded

as in erroneous

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deluded

2 of 2

verb

past tense of delude

as in deceived

to cause to believe what is untrue we deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn't affect our diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deluded

Adjective

Rather than a cruel Hedda, a fragile Hedda, a tragically deluded Hedda, Adele saw a woman who was comically at her wits’ end. — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 In Joe Mantello’s staggering new production of Arthur Miller’s 1949 American tragedy, self-deluded everyman Willy Loman (Lane) gets lost in the funhouse mirror of his life, haunted by the squandered potential of both him and his son, Biff (the revelatory Christopher Abbott). — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 May 2026

Verb

Instead, Weinstein told the jury, Nick Kassotis had been duped and deluded by the mysterious figure Jim McIntyre. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026 Atheists wrote that my father deluded himself. — Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deluded

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deluded

Adjective

Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.

— Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
For example, antiquarian scholars introduced the erroneous notion that druids built stone circles—most notably Stonehenge—for their ceremonies, an idea that became embedded in the popular imagination during the 18th century.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of erroneous

Verb

Now some say the operation has left them feeling deceived and questioning whether the White House considered their safety.

— Scott Nover, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2026
White House pool reporters deceived Advertisement McDonald pushed back on the idea that Air Force One and the people still aboard it, including journalists, were left exposed.

— Philip Wang, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceived

Adjective

Travelers can place too much trust in a confident but inaccurate answer.

— Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Viral posts outlining ways to find AI tool hacks are now commonplace, but this also means an increase in factually inaccurate claims that are seen by millions of people.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of inaccurate

Verb

We’re meant to learn from our mistakes and not get fooled a second time.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
The uncomfortable implication is that the most dangerous credibility failures are not the ones where we are obviously fooled by something implausible.

— Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of fooled

Verb

In the past couple of years, deepfakes have already tricked large firms like Arup into wiring $25 million to scammers.

— Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
In September 2025, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, noting that consumers could still enjoy the treats even if they felt tricked by the wrappers.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of tricked

Adjective

That’s no problem for them, because the failures occur years after the discussions, minimizing the political risk to those who voted for these misguided plans.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Treating the employment relationship as static is as misguided as treating any long-term relationship as fixed.

— Susan LaMotte, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of misguided

Adjective

Also, if the switch from side by side to one-front/one-back happened instantaneously, your brain would get confused about how to interpret the images delivered from each eye, since the setup would be quite different from what you were used to.

— Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Critics of the move have been vocal, and many residents were left confused.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of confused

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“Deluded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deluded. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deluded

adjective

verb

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