apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.
the apparent cause of the accident
illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.
an illusory sense of security
seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.
the seeming simplicity of the story
ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.
the ostensible reason for their visit
Examples of illusory in a Sentence
an illusory sense of security
Recent Examples on the WebHelping to tackle these endemic issues is more worthwhile than the pursuit of an illusory pact that will leave the United States worse off than before.—Frederic Wehrey, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2024 At the center of the milky green lens, where the radiating emerald color was most concentrated, an illusory pupil gazed out from an infinite depth.—Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2024 The Act of Killing director uses an allegorical family to probe a different kind of psychological violence, one padded by the illusory comfort of money.—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2024 The bottom line The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index’s recent volatile performance has led Wolfe Research to conclude that its recent breakout was illusory.—Abid Ali, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for illusory
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illusory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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