Delusive: meaning, example and synonyms
Delusiveadj. Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive.
Example
The calm surface of the bay was delusive, for beneath it powerful currents could carry an unwary swimmer far from shore within minutes.
- Part of speech
- adjective
- Synonyms
- deceptive, misleading, illusory, false
- Antonyms
- genuine, accurate, reliable, truthful
- Memory tip
- Delusive things feed a delusion: they look true but aren't.
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Check yourself: Delusive in context
Investors who trusted the market's steady prices were relying on ______ signals, since the stability masked a mountain of risky loans that would soon trigger a collapse.
Answer: delusive. Signals that suggested safety while hiding risk gave a false impression: delusive. Salutary (beneficial), secluded (isolated) and facetious (flippantly joking) don't fit.
Mirages in the desert are ______ images: shimmering pools of water appear on the horizon, yet they vanish as the traveler approaches.
Answer: delusive. Images of water that is not really there are misleading: delusive. Tortuous (twisting), salutary (beneficial) and interchangeable (able to be swapped) don't fit.