hallucinatory

[huh-loo-suh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

See more synonyms for hallucinatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to or characterized by hallucination: hallucinatory visions.

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Origin of hallucinatory

First recorded in 1820–30; hallucinate + -ory¹

Related formsnon·hal·lu·ci·na·to·ry, adjectiveun·hal·lu·ci·na·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

fantastic illusory fanciful dreamlike apparent chimeric chimerical deceitful delusive delusory fake fallacious fictional fictitious fictive ideal imaginary misleading mistaken ostensible

Examples from the Web for hallucinatory

Contemporary Examples

“I lay curled up in a hallucinatory state for the next eight hours,” Dowd wrote in the column.
Maureen Dowd: ‘I Love’ Pot Billboard Using My Image, Will Use It for Christmas Card
Abby Haglage
September 17, 2014
I barely made it to my couch, where I lay curled up in a hallucinatory state for the next eight minutes.
Smoke ‘Em If You Got A Good Story About ‘Em
Kevin Bleyer
June 6, 2014
The leftist Peace Now lobby referred to it as hallucinatory.
The Rise of Naftali Bennett
David Frum
January 17, 2013
She then won an Oscar… in a hallucinatory vision during the illness, leading her to pursue a career in acting.
Rebel Wilson’s 12 Funniest Moments (Video)
Kevin Fallon
October 15, 2012
Another aspect of the book is a certain degree of hallucinatory imagery, influenced by how Junger spent the 1950s.
A P.S. on Ernst Jünger
Noah Kristula-Green
July 23, 2012

Historical Examples

She had insight into the hallucinatory nature of these visions.
Benign Stupors
August Hoch
There are no hallucinatory phases in the conditions or causes.
Visual Illusions
Matthew Luckiesh
Or again, the sounds may be hallucinatory and only some mortals may have the power of hearing them.
Cock Lane and Common-Sense
Andrew Lang
It seems to have been hallucinatory, otherwise all would have shared the experience.
Cock Lane and Common-Sense
Andrew Lang
The first wish must have been an hallucinatory occupation of the memory for gratification.
Dream Psychology
Sigmund Freud

Word Origin and History for hallucinatory

adj.

1830, from hallucinat-, past participle stem of Latin hallucinari (see hallucinate) + -ory.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

hallucinatory in Medicine

hallucinatory

(hə-lōō′sə-nə-tôr′ē)

adj.

Of or characterized by hallucination.
Inducing or causing hallucination.

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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.