delude

verb

de·​lude di-ˈlüd 

dē-

deluded; deluding

transitive verb

1

: to mislead the mind or judgment of : deceive, trick

… people he regards as deluded by the romantic idea that children somehow possess innate knowledge …

—Andrew Delbanco

… Hamilton apparently deluded himself, as the first Treasury secretary, into thinking his policies patriotic when their effect, Mr. Phillips says, was to put money into silken purses.

—Michael Knox Beran

2

obsolete

a

: frustrate, disappoint

b

: evade, elude

deluder noun

Synonyms

• bamboozle
• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Choose the Right Synonym for delude

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness.

deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

Examples of delude in a Sentence

we deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn't affect our diet

Recent Examples on the Web

Ever since, internationalists have deployed the term to tar and feather the likes of the conservative commentator Patrick Buchanan, the former Republican member of Congress Ron Paul, and now Trump, charging that they are naively deluded about the desirability and viability of strategic detachment. —Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024

Biden was no longer of any use to the party, so its leaders, having deluded themselves a Trump victory means the end of everything, sent the president packing. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024

The Giants can keep trying to delude themselves, but the evidence is undeniable: this roster isn’t good enough. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024

Up until the day of the demonstration, the separatists could still delude themselves into thinking that those opposed to secession would remain quiet and accept independence. —Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deluden, dylluden "to deceive, frustrate," borrowed from Latin dēlūdere "to deceive, dupe," from dē- de- + lūdere "to play, jest, spend one's time trivially, trifle with" — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

delude

verb

de·​lude di-ˈlüd 

deluded; deluding

: to lead into error : mislead the judgment of : deceive, trick

deluded by false promises

deluder noun

Medical Definition

delude

transitive verb

de·​lude di-ˈlüd 

deluded; deluding

: to mislead the mind or judgment of