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
Costume designer Paul Tazewell, who collaborated with Thom Browne on Janelle Monáe’s optical illusion dress and designed Chappell Roan’s pink suit, benefited from online discussions.
—
Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 12 May 2025
There's also an optical illusions section that can be fun for children who like to be perplexed.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 19 Apr. 2025
My favorite bits with him are his office decorations, frankly—the rabbit/duck optical illusion statue, showing his mutable nature, and the iceberg poster, hinting at hidden depths.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
This stunning image by the Hubble Space Telescope contains an optical illusion.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 12 May 2025
There's also an optical illusions section that can be fun for children who like to be perplexed.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 19 Apr. 2025
My favorite bits with him are his office decorations, frankly—the rabbit/duck optical illusion statue, showing his mutable nature, and the iceberg poster, hinting at hidden depths.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
This stunning image by the Hubble Space Telescope contains an optical illusion.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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High ceilings, tall doors, oversized windows, and a herringbone parquet floor with oversized proportions were also key to creating the illusion of extra space.—
Mailin Sophie Zieser,
Architectural Digest,
7 June 2025
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While there is a warming and cooling sensation associated with these products, the ingredients act on nerve endings to create an illusion of hot and cold.—
Novant Health,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Houston is really high on Udoka, so this may seem like a pipe dream.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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Making changes like this can be difficult because estranged parents often don’t realize how important being on the same page is for their children so making such changes seems like a pipe dream.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2025
Noun
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The series, originally from Monumental Television for the BBC in the UK, follows a young couple inherit a huge castle, only to find one of them can communicate with the various apparitions from history who already live there.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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The listing appeared suddenly, like an apparition from the era when Yoshi’s reigned as the Bay Area’s premiere jazz venue.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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