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
At the last awards ceremony, Heidi Klum wore a gown with cutouts that gave the optical illusion of a bra.
—
Marissa Muller, WWD, 2 Feb. 2025
The last sequence is an astonishing optical illusion to behold.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Mercury in retrograde is an optical illusion without consequences for us and our planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Jupiter turns retrograde on Oct. 9 and will last through Feb. 4, 2024, an astrological period that is intense in the cosmos and an astronomical period that is an optical illusion from our perspective on Earth.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Marissa Muller, WWD, 2 Feb. 2025
The last sequence is an astonishing optical illusion to behold.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Mercury in retrograde is an optical illusion without consequences for us and our planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Jupiter turns retrograde on Oct. 9 and will last through Feb. 4, 2024, an astrological period that is intense in the cosmos and an astronomical period that is an optical illusion from our perspective on Earth.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
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Then finding a solution for them, but more give them the illusion of choice.—
Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
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The 400-year-old fort is famed for its mirror work on the walls and 3D carvings creating illusions on its pillars.—
Shalbha Sarda,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Leadership development professionals face an uphill battle: coaching is expensive, training doesn’t always translate to behavior change, and establishing a culture of learning can feel like a pipe dream.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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But as Variety reports, the now A-list cast is busy with other projects, the character arcs reportedly have to be reworked to accommodate a time jump, and a production start date is but a pipe dream in Sam Levinson’s head.—
Zoe Guy,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Zoe, as an apparition, is both the cause and relief to her pain.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
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In one of the film’s more startling moments, Shiri and Yarden Bibas and other residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz — many of whom, including Shiri Bibas and her two children, are now confirmed dead — flit across the screen like apparitions.—
Toby Axelrod,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical%20illusion. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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