HALLUCINATION Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'hallucination' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hallucination are delusion , illusion , and mirage . While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs. // suffered from terrifying hallucinations

Q: When is it sensible to use 'delusion' instead of 'hallucination'?

The words delusion and hallucination are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind. // delusions of persecution

Q: When can 'illusion' be used instead of 'hallucination'?

Although the words illusion and hallucination have much in common, illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines. // an illusion of safety

Q: When is 'mirage' a more appropriate choice than 'hallucination'?

While in some cases nearly identical to hallucination , mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim. // claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

hallucination

noun

hə-ˌlü-sə-ˈnā-shən

Definition of hallucination

as in dream

a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality were the voices real, or merely a hallucination?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in delusion

a false idea or belief the common hallucination that gluttony during the holiday season doesn't have consequences

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truth
verity

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun hallucination contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hallucination are delusion, illusion, and mirage. While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.

suffered from terrifying hallucinations

When is it sensible to use delusion instead of hallucination?

The words delusion and hallucination are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.

delusions of persecution

When can illusion be used instead of hallucination?

Although the words illusion and hallucination have much in common, illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.

an illusion of safety

When is mirage a more appropriate choice than hallucination?

While in some cases nearly identical to hallucination, mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.

claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

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 hallucination Giving an agent broad, unmonitored access to an entire database ecosystem invites severe security vulnerabilities, prompt injection exploits and catastrophic hallucination loops. — Barney Krishnan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Volunteers also had fewer episodes of cataplexy, or loss of muscle control, as well as other symptoms such as hallucinations and irregular sleep. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 Attorneys for State Farm apologized to a court for submitting legal briefings rife with artificial intelligence hallucinations and nonexistent case law, the latest example of lawyers bolstering their arguments with precedents made up by a chatbot. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The psychologist testified that that would depend on how loud the auditory hallucinations sounded to the individual. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hallucination

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hallucination

Noun

Meanwhile, the Young Bucks will challenge Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for the AEW World Tag Team Championship in a dream match between teams from different generations.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Pop, in making his dream a reality, became a hero and a torchbearer.

— Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of dream

Noun

Symptoms of postpartum psychosis can include delusions or hallucinations that can prompt suicidal or homicidal action, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
That’s the sign of an overmatched team, and one that should be far, far away from any delusions of postseason grandeur.

— Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of delusion

Noun

This is the illusion that the Rankine of Triage has abandoned.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
The illusion of molten steel was basically water and mineral oil mixed with a little powdered sugar; creative lighting and heaters placed below the cameras—plus a few CGI sparks in the background—did the rest.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of illusion

Noun

Visitors are invited to travel across time and place to notice how societies around the world tended to weave similar, parallel myths.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
But cultural myths and urban legends have also stereotyped them into Halloween mascots, demonic beings and carriers of diseases.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of myth

Noun

The next day, Luwi had a similar daydream, but this time the disapproving patriarch was Gajdusek.

— Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
And amidst the momentum of reverie, there’s the line ‘Blink at the light and hope to survive,’ because daydreams in a fascist state can be scary too.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026

Definition of daydream

Noun

Roman will also detect exoplanets using the tried-and-true transit method, but scientists expect the new telescope to find a lot more than past space missions have, thanks to its wider vision.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
The immigrant entrepreneurs often offered their families and young customers an idealized vision of American life.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of vision

Noun

The initial offering will include more than 200 titles across popular genres including romance, billionaire romance, fantasy and family drama, with a wide selection of titles available with Indonesian dubbing and subtitles.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
The catalog spans genres such as fantasy, family drama, romance and billionaire romance, told in episodes running 60-90 seconds.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of fantasy

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hallucinating

hallucination

hallucinations

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

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Synonyms of hallucination

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Synonyms of hallucination

noun

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