as in illusion
an image that tricks a person's vision
Some may dismiss what we witnessed that night as an optical illusion, but we firmly believe it was a UFO.
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Recent Examples of optical illusion
But that number was an optical illusion following Robert Saleh’s firing after Week 5.
—
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
The attraction includes dozens of optical illusions and mind-bending exhibits that create unusual photo opportunities.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
Stylist Harry Lambert dressed Regan in an optical illusion number from Central Saint Martins graduate Petra Fagerstrom’s award-winning, AI glitches, real-life-hybrid graduate collection.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 12 June 2025
These optical illusion pants are made from a supersoft sweatpant-like material that’s screen-printed with denim details.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
The attraction includes dozens of optical illusions and mind-bending exhibits that create unusual photo opportunities.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
Stylist Harry Lambert dressed Regan in an optical illusion number from Central Saint Martins graduate Petra Fagerstrom’s award-winning, AI glitches, real-life-hybrid graduate collection.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 12 June 2025
These optical illusion pants are made from a supersoft sweatpant-like material that’s screen-printed with denim details.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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Binaural beats are an auditory illusion created when two tones of slightly different frequencies are played separately into each ear at the same time.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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The only way to have preserved its life in advance preparation would have been to give a harsh defensive clearcut to the pines that surrounded it, taking away the sound of wind through the branches and stripping the lodge of one of its best elements: the illusion of organic emergence.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Yet, Californian secession remains a pipe dream for much more practical reasons: President Trump and the federal government would never consent to California’s departure.—
Robin Epley,
Mercury News,
19 July 2025
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The only probable means of gumming up the works is if the AI pursuits fizzle out and people become disillusioned that AGI was merely a pipe dream.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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Mercury reaches its point of greatest eastern elongation on Friday (July 4), presenting an excellent opportunity to spot the rocky planet during its evening apparition in the post-sunset sky.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 July 2025
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While contemplating his former love and his future as a father, Massey conjures up the apparition of his beloved Catherine.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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