illusory

American  

[ih-loo-suh-ree, -zuh-] / ɪˈlu sə ri, -zə- /

adjective

1. causing illusion; deceptive; misleading.

   Synonyms:

   false, specious, fallacious

2. of the nature of an illusion; unreal.

   Synonyms:

   fancied, visionary, imaginary

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illusory British  

/ ɪˈluːsərɪ, ɪˈluːsɪv /

adjective

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

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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

Etymology

Origin of illusory

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

Example Sentences

This would neutralize the board’s argument about Paramount’s “illusory” financing.

From MarketWatch

Warner’s rejection had focused on what it had called an “illusory” offer, raising concerns about the credibility of the equity being offered by Paramount.

From The Wall Street Journal

And these numbers are “nominal,” meaning they include the illusory gains that come from inflation.

From MarketWatch

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• false
• hallucinatory
• misleading
• unreal
• whimsical