Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to believe something that is not true; to deceive or mislead someone.
   • To impose a misleading belief upon someone; to trick.

Usage

The verb delude is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person being deceived). It often implies a deliberate act of deception that results in someone holding a false idea or hope. It is commonly used with a reflexive pronoun (e.g., myself, yourself) when someone deceives themselves.

Examples

• Basic Usage:
  • The scam artist deluded the elderly couple into giving him their life savings.
  • Don't delude yourself into thinking the task will be easy.
• With Reflexive Pronoun:
  • He deluded himself that his bad habits wouldn't affect his health.
  • If you believe you can succeed without hard work, you are deluding yourself.

Advanced Usage

• "to delude someone with something": To use a specific thing (e.g., promises, appearances) as the means of deception.
  • The dictator deluded the population with empty promises of prosperity.
• "to delude someone into doing something": To deceive someone so that they perform a specific action.
  • She was deluded into signing a fraudulent contract.

Variants and Related Words

• Delusion (n): A false belief or impression, especially one that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by reality.
  • He was under the delusion that he was invincible.
• Deluded (adj): Believing something that is not true; misled.
  • The deluded fan thought the celebrity was in love with him.
• Delusional (adj): Characterized by or holding false beliefs, often symptomatic of a mental condition.
  • The patient suffered from delusional thoughts.

Synonyms

• Deceive: To cause someone to believe an untruth.
• Mislead: To lead someone in the wrong direction or give them a wrong idea.
• Hoodwink: To deceive or trick someone (informal).
• Bamboozle: To confuse or fool someone (informal).

Antonyms

• Enlighten: To give someone greater knowledge and understanding.
• Undecieve: To tell someone the truth so they are no longer deceived.
• Disabuse: To persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Delusions of grandeur: A false belief in one's own importance, power, or identity.
  • After his first small success, he suffered from delusions of grandeur.
• Labor under a delusion: To persistently believe something that is false.
  • You are laboring under a delusion if you think they will change the rules for you.

Verb

1. be false to; be dishonest with