mirage

noun

Definition of miragenext
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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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 But critics claim PBMs don’t always find the best deals, and the savings are often a mirage. —Julia Manchester, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2025 Gurriel will have to earn his keep by showing in April’s real games that the exhibitions of March were not a mirage. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025 First, this is a mirage: the facilities needed do not exist to meet the need. —Robert M. Hayes, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2025 The retailer is bringing its music festival to Coachella Valley in Southern California for the eighth year with a new theme: desert mirage. —Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mirage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mirage
  1. daydream
  2. dream
  3. illusion
Noun
  • The video poignantly contrasts between a life with and without the threat of gun violence through a little girl’s daydream.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 10 Mar. 2025
  • But true love isn’t built in daydreams—it’s built in real-time, with real people.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of daydream
Noun
  • The bottom line: Uncle Sam's collection hat ruined the dream.
    — Jason Clayworth, Axios, 14 Apr. 2025
  • As a job seeker, personal branding can make the difference between landing your dream job and disappearing into a pile of resumes.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of dream
Noun
  • These individuals, who have spent their lives cultivating their skills, embody a kind of magic that has nothing to do with illusions or technology but everything to do with the human spirit.
    — Tony Bradley, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • According to the documentary, De Beers created an illusion of diamond scarcity by controlling supply and demand.
    — Garth Friesen, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of illusion

Browse Nearby Words

miraculous
mirage
mirages
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Cite this Entry

“Mirage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mirage. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mirage

Nglish: Translation of mirage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mirage

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