as in to disabuse
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes
we were disillusioned when we saw how the movie star acted in real life
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as in disillusionment
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Recent Examples of disillusion
Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The grueling K-pop machine Ironically, the movie that made Ejae a star is an ode to the Korean pop music machine that disillusioned her all those years ago.
—Allison Cho, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
These leaders pose a significant risk, disillusion us the most, and undercut the argument that character is essential to success.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disillusion
Verb
From the heady days post-revolution, the student movement splintered, and the electoral dominance of the traditional parties has left many young people disillusioned—not least since women stood at the vanguard of the July revolution yet were largely sidelined in the reform process.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The grueling K-pop machine Ironically, the movie that made Ejae a star is an ode to the Korean pop music machine that disillusioned her all those years ago.
—Allison Cho, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Diminishing political and social returns — ideas that start from good intentions only to end in frustration and disillusion — seem to plague most attempts at addressing America’s structural problems, which remain and persist.
—Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
These leaders pose a significant risk, disillusion us the most, and undercut the argument that character is essential to success.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disillusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disillusion
Verb
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But the fear that Bacon has gathered everyone for something indulgent is quickly disabused in the silly and gory comedy where the fun all are having on screen extends to those who aren’t directly related.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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This is also why disabusing new believers of such opinions can feel like plucking shell fragments from a cooking omelet.—
Emil Steiner,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The worship of greatness leads, at best, to disillusionment and, at worst, to the insanity unleashed by the Wagnerian Hitler.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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My mother’s political disillusionment is not unique.—
Jenna Norton,
STAT,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Yet the search for solutions resulted only in more disenchantment.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Public disenchantment with the Iraq war did much to power Barack Obama’s unlikely victory four years later.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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American workers are disenchanted, depressed and frustrated.—
Chris Tomlinson,
Houston Chronicle,
5 Feb. 2026
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For more than 15 years, independents have made up the largest group of voters, as Americans have grown increasingly disenchanted with the two-party system.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Meteorologists did their job but the alarm got carried away, highlighting the need for better communication of uncertainty.—
Jason Samenow,
Washington Post,
17 Mar. 2026
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The start of the fifth season brings a mixture of excitement and uncertainty to Angel City FC, with this being the first full season under Straus, who officially took over last June.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disillusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disillusion. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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