disillusionment

American  

[dis-i-loo-zhuhn-muhnt] / ˌdɪs ɪˈlu ʒən mənt /

noun

1. the loss or destruction of illusions or idealistic beliefs; the state of having lost such illusions or beliefs.

   Her bitterness and disillusionment were complete when he refused to investigate the corruption she reported because he was in business with some of the people involved.

---

Etymology

Origin of disillusionment

disillusion ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

Decades of poverty and the crumbling of Cuba’s once-idealized healthcare system have sparked widespread disillusionment, said Ted Henken, a professor of Cuban studies at Baruch College in New York.

From Los Angeles Times

And, clearly, robot cars fell hard into what consulting firm Gartner called the “trough of disillusionment.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Here, the drama is in Glinda’s disillusionment as she realizes she’s become the pretty face of fascism.

From Los Angeles Times

She also described his growing disillusionment with the department, saying that before his death he had considered going to work for the state’s Department of Justice investigating “bad cops.”

From Los Angeles Times

What it says about America: Grunge brought Gen X disillusionment to the center of American culture.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adversity
• blow
• chagrin
• defeat
• discontent
• disenchantment
• dissatisfaction
• failure
• frustration
• letdown
• regret
• setback