- past participle of disillusion.
- past tense form of disillusion.
disillusioned
Britishadjective
Explanation
People who are disillusioned have lost their illusions. This is usually meant in a negative way, as disillusioned people tend to be a little bitter. When you're disillusioned, you're wiser but not necessarily happier: you've learned from experience that life isn't always how you'd like it to be. Getting divorced could leave you disillusioned about marriage and love. Finding out a teacher cheated could leave you disillusioned about education. We all are disillusioned at some point, and it's usually a bit depressing. Often, ignorance really is bliss.
Vocabulary lists containing disillusioned
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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.
But privately the DUP has felt betrayed and disillusioned by the actions of their former leader.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
Many disillusioned Cubans shrugged off the announcements as either too little too late or an outright "lie."
From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026
“There is a tendency for one to feel disillusioned and even undermined by the other,” astrologer Raymond Merriman said of their birth charts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Having just celebrated his 68th birthday, Oldman is only a year removed from Krapp, though unlike Beckett’s character he isn’t disillusioned or lonely.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
Though he’d been nothing but encouraging about my job prospects, I think he was quietly worried I might end up disillusioned or disempowered working under Daley.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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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.