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Showing results for illusory. Search instead for illusor.
Definitions

illusory

[ih-loo-suh-ree, -zuh-] / ɪˈlu sə ri, -zə- /
ADJECTIVE
deceptive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
false hallucinatory misleading unreal whimsical
WEAK
Barmecidal apparent blue-sky chimerical deceitful delusive delusory fallacious fanciful fantastic fictional fictitious fictive float ideal illusive imaginary mistaken ostensible pipe dream seeming semblant sham suppositious supposititious untrue visionary
Antonyms
STRONGEST
genuine honest real truthful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But these contracts only make sense if you need to squeeze the most income out of your savings, and for those in that situation, full “control” over their money is largely illusory.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

The tax would even be levied on illusory assets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

And yet they still experienced the illusory effects of the figure.

From Slate • Aug. 24, 2025

The participants genuinely looked determined to work out compromises that only a few weeks ago appeared illusory.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2025

It was not that Lowell’s eye had strung up disconnected fine detail on the Martian surface into illusory straight lines.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.