delusive

American  

[dih-loo-siv] / dɪˈlu sɪv /

Also delusory

adjective

1. tending to delude; misleading; deceptive.

   a delusive reply.

2. of the nature of a delusion; false; unreal.

   a delusive belief.

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Other Word Forms

• delusively adverb
• delusiveness noun
• nondelusive adjective
• undelusive adjective
• undelusively adverb
• undelusiveness noun
• undelusory adjective

Etymology

Origin of delusive

First recorded in 1595–1605; delus(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

His Willy, a salesman aggressively trapped in a delusive way of thinking, would rather die a martyr than admit to being sold a bill of goods about success.

From Los Angeles Times

“My delusive longing to sense some genuine vestige of this woman has culminated in the awareness that she’s no longer present anywhere, except in my imagination.”

From New York Times

“When they are trying to persuade the region that they are competent to fulfill its development dreams, they are misrepresenting themselves with a delusive promise of an ‘alternative model.’”

From Washington Times

After all, if the world and the self are illusions, it is delusive to believe that they can be redeemed.

From The New Yorker

Supporters of #MeToo have, on occasion, adhered to this idea in a sort of delusive optimism.

From The New Yorker