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
The dial is rendered in grand feu enamel in a way that creates an optical illusion as the watch moves – the idea is to create the effect of a raindrop falling on the still surface of a pond, with ripples radiating out from the seconds sub-dial.
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Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
During its rising phase, the moon often appears larger and brighter due to various optical illusions, including the moon illusion, in which our brains misinterpret its size when framed by foreground objects.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024
The entire book seems to flip back and forth, like an optical illusion, from literary novel to genre thriller and back again.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Both activities depended on legerdemain and made elaborate use of optical illusions.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion 
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
During its rising phase, the moon often appears larger and brighter due to various optical illusions, including the moon illusion, in which our brains misinterpret its size when framed by foreground objects.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024
The entire book seems to flip back and forth, like an optical illusion, from literary novel to genre thriller and back again.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Both activities depended on legerdemain and made elaborate use of optical illusions.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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Even without the illusion, the cabin is good and spacious.David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
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Because at 200 feet, the FAA requires warning lights and Disney Imagineers (Disney’s word for the engineers, creatives, and designers who dream, build, and product experiences in Disney Parks) did not want to break the illusion of being transported to another world.Deanne Revel, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Hutchinson’s desire to be back for the Super Bowl sounds more like a pipe dream.Steve Silverman, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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But their plan for transforming it into a venue isn’t a pipe dream.Curbed editors, Curbed, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Our hopes for the power of small transformations may be misplaced, while the power of the sudden apparition—The drones are here!Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
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La Virgen had made apparitions to Juan Diego between Dec. 9-12, 1531 on Mexico City’s hill of Tepeyac in between tending to an ailing uncle.Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near optical illusion
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
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