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Showing results for self-deception. Search instead for selfdeception.
Synonyms

self-deception

American  
[self-di-sep-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈsɛp ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

  1. the act or fact of deceiving oneself.


self-deception British  

noun

  1. the act or an instance of deceiving oneself, esp as to the true nature of one's feelings or motives

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of self-deception

First recorded in 1670–80


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.

See Examples For:

That is only a fraction of the heap of self-deception we’ve been amassing these past five months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Fairy In A Bottle is a glorious bruise of a song, all about Alon's capacity for self-deception: "I want to worship you before the hope expires."

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2025

To not see this for what it is can be attributed to being naïve and gullible, to self-deception by outright denial, or to being complicit.

From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2025

Anything that we’re afraid of that isn’t happening now is a self-deception.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2025

Perhaps this is just more self-deception, yet another attempt to prove to myself that I’m not worthless.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

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