magical thinking

American  

noun

1. a conviction that thinking is equivalent to doing, occurring in dreams, the thought patterns of children, and some types of mental disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Example Sentences

There is too much magical thinking about how to fix the program.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

It takes magical thinking to grow anything in the harsh desert environment, which is why artists have been making the trek for decades.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

We in the space community, in my view, have been willing to engage in magical thinking this whole time.”

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

Each of these proposals attempts to address real problems but are either the result of magical thinking or will do more harm than good.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

My mom’s magical thinking allows her to believe that I have total autonomy over my life.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed