illusory
il·lu·so·ry
(ĭ-lo͞o′sə-rē, -zə-rē)adj.
Produced by, based on, or having the nature of an illusion; deceptive: an illusory belief that their finances would improve.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
illusory
(ɪˈluːsərɪ) orillusive
adj
producing, produced by, or based on illusion; deceptive or unreal
ilˈlusorily, ilˈlusively adv
ilˈlusoriness, ilˈlusiveness n
Usage: Illusive is sometimes wrongly used where elusive is meant: they fought hard, but victory remained elusive (not illusive)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
il•lu•so•ry
(ɪˈlu sə ri, -zə-)adj.
1. causing illusion; deceptive; misleading.
2. like an illusion; unreal.
[1590–1600; < Late Latin illūsōrius=illūd(ere) to mock, ridicule (see illusion) + -tōrius -tory1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | illusory - based on or having the nature of an illusion; "illusive hopes of finding a better job"; "Secret activities offer presidents the alluring but often illusory promise that they can achieve foreign policy goals without the bothersome debate and open decision that are staples of democracy" unreal - lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria; "ghosts and other unreal entities"; "unreal propaganda serving as news" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
illusory
illusiveadjective unreal, false, misleading, untrue, seeming, mistaken, apparent, sham, deceptive, deceitful, hallucinatory, fallacious, chimerical, delusive the illusory nature of nationhood
real, true, solid, genuine, reliable, authentic, down-to-earth, factual
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
illusory
adjective1. Of, relating to, or in the nature of an illusion; lacking reality:
2. Tending to lead one into error:
3. Tending to deceive; of the nature of an illusion:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.