delude
Americanverb
-
to deceive the mind or judgment of; mislead; beguile
-
rare to frustrate (hopes, expectations, etc)
Other Word Forms
- deludable adjective
- deluder noun
- deludingly adverb
- nondeluding adjective
- undeluding adjective
Etymology
Origin of delude
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English deluden, from Latin dēlūdere “to play false,” equivalent to dē- de- + lūdere “to play”
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.
He’s also “theologically” grateful to be reminded that he is “dependent,” that “I can’t delude myself in claiming that I’m self-sufficient.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
Blanche is just the latest person to delude himself this way.
From Salon • May 2, 2024
His goal was to delude the rest of us.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2023
They weren’t trying to delude audiences about their artistry — their casualness was foundational to their appeal.
From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2022
John Faa said, “Lyra, there en’t no question of taking you into danger, so don’t delude yourself, child. Stay here and help Ma Costa and keep safe. That’s what you got to do.”
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
