self-delusion

American  

[self-di-loo-zhuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈlu ʒən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the act or fact of deluding oneself.

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self-delusion British  

noun

1. the act or state of deceiving or deluding oneself

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Other Word Forms

• self-deluded
  adjective
• self-deluding
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-delusion

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

Asked Wednesday about his abysmal polling results among women, he responded with characteristic self delusion: “The numbers aren’t good, not as good as they were, but nobody respects women more than I do.”

From The Guardian • Mar. 31, 2016

I certainly hope some of your comments manage to piece their self delusion but doubt that it will.

From BusinessWeek • Nov. 21, 2011

I would describe them as spoilt and flattered to the point of self delusion.

From The Guardian • May 30, 2010

Or if they be but false alarms of Fear, How bitter is such self delusion?

From The Poetical Works of John Milton by Milton, John

A woman wishes to mother a man simply because she sees into his helplessness, his need of an amiable environment, his touching self delusion.

From In Defense of Women by Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis)