illusory

adjective

Definition of illusorynext
as in imaginary
formal based on something that is not true or real; based on an illusion an illusory hope an illusory sense of security

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective illusory contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of illusory are apparent, ostensible, and seeming. While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

When is apparent a more appropriate choice than illusory?

The synonyms apparent and illusory are sometimes interchangeable, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

When is it sensible to use ostensible instead of illusory?

The meanings of ostensible and illusory largely overlap; however, ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

When could seeming be used to replace illusory?

While the synonyms seeming and illusory are close in meaning, seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illusory Time may be an absolute, but our measurements of it are illusory. —Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Across both songs, the fear glimpsed through the door viewer proves to be illusory, pointing to the truth that a shift in perspective can instantly invert the world. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2025 So if that’s the case, is the dynamic between Zosia and Carol real or illusory? —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2025 Migration control is illusory so long as employers who seek a foreign workforce—whether as guest workers or undocumented laborers—escape the scrutiny that migrants face daily. —Time, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illusory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illusory
  1. imaginary
  2. unreal
  3. ideal
  4. imagined
  5. imaginal
  6. unlikely
Adjective
  • Finally, the researchers did another version of the original test but used imaginary grapes instead of juice, with similar results.
    — Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the new love in your life may be imaginary and only after your bank account.
    — C. A. Bridges, Florida Times-Union, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of imaginary
Adjective
  • Getting to play Survivor once is a dream, getting to play twice and on a monumental anniversary season is unreal.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The pressure King felt was unreal.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Definition of unreal
Adjective
  • Further along are stacked formal rooms ideal for entertaining.
    — Lynn Slaney Silguero, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • As one of the most influential gatherings in the beauty and fragrance industry, Cosmoprof provides an ideal platform to showcase a perfume that prioritizes emotional resonance over fleeting trends.
    — Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of ideal
Adjective
  • The experiments together suggest that Kanzi was able to distinguish an imagined scenario from the present reality and keep both in mind.
    — Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
  • So, the transactional world is constantly pushing us out of the present and redirecting us to an imagined future.
    — Bill Burnett, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of imagined
Adjective
  • Peter [Merry] likes to use is that, when a caterpillar is becoming a butterfly, new ‘imaginal cells’ emerge.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 7 Aug. 2025
  • With one technique, for example—called imaginal exposure—you might be asked to visualize the process of going to the airport, boarding the plane, and experiencing a bad bout of turbulence.
    — Angela Haupt, TIME, 10 May 2024
Definition of imaginal
Adjective
  • The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Costco, by contrast, is betting that visible, if measured, support for diversity can coexist with—and even underpin—a booming business, turning the warehouse club into an unlikely bellwether for how far corporate America is willing to go in defying the president’s DEI directive.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of unlikely

Browse Nearby Words

illusive
illusory
illustrate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illusory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illusory. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on illusory

Nglish: Translation of illusory for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All