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magical thinking

American  

noun

  1. a conviction that thinking is equivalent to doing, occurring in dreams, the thought patterns of children, and some types of mental disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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.

And some of what appeared to be magical thinking: “When this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Each of these proposals attempts to address real problems but are either the result of magical thinking or will do more harm than good.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

Unlike what Joan Didion once suggested, magical thinking is no longer reserved for those who are grieving.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

I think it is misguided and magical thinking.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2024

My mom’s magical thinking allows her to believe that I have total autonomy over my life.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

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.