delusional

Sometimes de·lusion·ary

[dih-loo-zhuh-nl]

adjective

1. having false or unrealistic beliefs or opinions.

   Senators who think they will get agreement on a comprehensive tax bill are delusional.

2. Psychiatry.,  maintaining fixed false beliefs even when confronted with facts, usually as a result of mental illness.

   He was so delusional and paranoid that he thought everybody was conspiring against him.

Word History and Origins

Origin of delusional¹

First recorded in 1850–60; delusion ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

But there’s one big, glaring reason she’s delusional if she really thinks she can secure the Republican nomination.

From Salon

The North has so far rejected Lee's goodwill gestures, calling him "delusional" and a "daydreamer".

From BBC

"If these folks believe that they are going to grow the revenue by putting this thing on, I think they're delusional. I really do."

From BBC

Donny is certainly demented, but he’s not nearly delusional enough that he didn’t recognize the single most ham-handed posterior puckering since “this Nobel award” was ever talked about.

From Salon

How can there be when you have to pay fealty to a delusional dim-wit with the power of a president?

From Salon

Related Words

• unrealistic