MIRAGE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'mirage' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mirage are delusion , hallucination , and illusion . While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim. // claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

Q: Where would 'delusion' be a reasonable alternative to 'mirage'?

The words delusion and mirage can be used in similar contexts, but delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind. // delusions of persecution

Q: When could 'hallucination' be used to replace 'mirage'?

In some situations, the words hallucination and mirage are roughly equivalent. However, hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs. // suffered from terrifying hallucinations

Q: When can 'illusion' be used instead of 'mirage'?

While the synonyms illusion and mirage are close in meaning, illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines. // an illusion of safety

mirage

noun

Definition of mirage next

as in daydream

something that comes from or exists only in the mind and is not real He thought he saw water up ahead but it was just a mirage.

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How does the noun mirage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mirage are delusion, hallucination, and illusion. While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.

claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

Where would delusion be a reasonable alternative to mirage?

The words delusion and mirage can be used in similar contexts, but delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.

delusions of persecution

When could hallucination be used to replace mirage?

In some situations, the words hallucination and mirage are roughly equivalent. However, hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.

suffered from terrifying hallucinations

When can illusion be used instead of mirage?

While the synonyms illusion and mirage are close in meaning, illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.

an illusion of safety

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 mirage Human reactions to Moltbook on X were piling up as of Friday, with some human users quick to acknowledge that any behavior that seemed to mirror true, human consciousness or sentience was (for now) a mirage. —

Jared Perlo, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara Anantara’s Qasr Al Sarab is the stuff of dreams that emerges from the far reaches of the Rub’ Al Khali—literally the Empty Quarter—like a mirage. —

Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026 In the present day, Muck crashes his dinner party with lewd outbursts and runs off with an old friend (Jack Farthing), who is later revealed to be a mirage of his late father. —

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026 But the potential proxy battle could still end up being something of a mirage. —

Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mirage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mirage

Noun

Shortly after, the book began to take shape, with new elements often arriving in vivid daydreams and eerie nightmares.

— Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
And like the iconic Orient-Express (whose original route has been revived by Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express), the Champagne flutes, suited servers, and glossy design of this locomotive hold a seductive potential for daydreams and drama.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

Definition of daydream

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

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Last Updated: 10 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of mirage

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