illusory

[ih-loo-suh-ree, -zuh-]

adjective

1. causing illusion; deceptive; misleading.

   Synonyms: false, specious, fallacious

2. of the nature of an illusion; unreal.

   Synonyms: fancied, visionary, imaginary

illusory

/ ɪˈluːsərɪ, ɪˈluːsɪv /

adjective

1. producing, produced by, or based on illusion; deceptive or unreal

Usage

Illusive is sometimes wrongly used where elusive is meant: they fought hard, but victory remained elusive (not illusive )

Other Word Forms

• illusorily adverb
• illusoriness noun
• unillusory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illusory¹

1590–1600; < Late Latin illūsōrius, equivalent to illūd ( ere ) to mock, ridicule ( illusion ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Toner-Rodgers’s illusory success seems in part thanks to the dynamics he has now upset: an academic culture at MIT where high levels of trust, integrity and rigor are all—for better or worse—assumed.

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Sometimes the clues are more cute than scary, such as the references to Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher who asserted the illusory nature of reality.

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The value of your securities is as illusory as the value of your people.

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It is hard, however, to take seriously Mr. Putin’s threat that Tomahawks would destroy an illusory “emerging positive trend” in U.S.-Russian relations, or the Kremlin’s statement that they would be a “serious escalation.”

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If it turns out progress was illusory we will at least have reacquainted ourselves with what optimism in the Mideast feels like—it feels energetic, like something that can get you through the next day.

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Related Words

• false 
• hallucinatory 
• misleading 
• unreal 
• whimsical