self-deception

[ self-di-sep-shuhn, self- ]

noun

1. the act or fact of deceiving oneself.

self-deception

noun

1. the act or an instance of deceiving oneself, esp as to the true nature of one's feelings or motives

Derived Forms

• ˌself-deˈceptive, adjective

Other Words From

• self-de·ceptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-deception¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

The mask of self-deception was no longer a mask for me, it was a part of me.

From The Daily Beast

It takes some powerful self-deception to indulge in the notion of “lessons learned” after a dozen years of war.

From The Daily Beast

I believe that the future of liberalism—and much else—depends on our overcoming this ruinous self-deception.

From The Daily Beast

It demonstrates either an incredible act of purposeful evasion or self-deception.

From The Daily Beast

To what extent do you think true self-deception (as opposed to simple bias) exists?

From The Daily Beast

Not easy to him was it to get back from the varying lights and shadows of self-deception to the radiant sunshine of truth.

From Project Gutenberg

Had his best days of happiness been, then, nothing but hollowness and self-deception?

From Project Gutenberg

Self-deception, egotism, cheap optimism—could they bring a man to this state of mind?

From Project Gutenberg

Where a child is enamoured of some definite individual, self-deception occurs just as it does in adults similarly situated.

From Project Gutenberg

Attempts to show what we know about life; to set the bounds of real truth as distinguished from phrases and self-deception.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deception
• fantasy
• hallucination
• illusion
• pipe dream