delusional

American  

[dih-loo-zhuh-nl] / dɪˈlu ʒə nl /

Sometimes delusionary

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.

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Etymology

Origin of delusional

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

Example Sentences

The fact that she stood by her delusional expectations after the fact is shocking.

From MarketWatch

It entered the Cambridge Dictionary in August alongside "delulu", a contraction of delusional that means "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to".

From Barron's

Ms. Antonetta calls for doctors to pay closer attention to what their patients are experiencing, even, or especially, if it seems delusional or disordered.

From The Wall Street Journal

Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is backing "delusional optimism" to carry him to an upset over British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua when the two men clash in a made-for-streaming event in Miami next month.

From Barron's

But for a small minority of the hundreds of millions of people who use it daily, AI may be too supportive, mental health experts say, and can sometimes even exacerbate delusional and dangerous behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• unrealistic