as in pipe dream
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Recent Examples of ignis fatuus
Several sources say ignis fatuus, a spark of swamp gas, is the likely cause of the strange light.
—
Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023
The story also helped explain ignis fatuus, a natural phenomenon that occurs in marshlands and bogs—such as those in Ireland’s countryside—producing flickering lights as gases from decomposing organic matter combust.
—National Geographic, 27 Oct. 2020
Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023
The story also helped explain ignis fatuus, a natural phenomenon that occurs in marshlands and bogs—such as those in Ireland’s countryside—producing flickering lights as gases from decomposing organic matter combust.
—National Geographic, 27 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignis fatuus
Noun
-
Playoff hopes have suddenly become a playoff pipe dream for the Columbus Blue Jackets.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
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While Manchester United’s stadium development is still a pipe dream, in need of financing and planning permission, their new stadium is a tangible reality already.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But critics claim PBMs don’t always find the best deals, and the savings are often a mirage.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
25 Mar. 2025
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Gurriel will have to earn his keep by showing in April’s real games that the exhibitions of March were not a mirage.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The air defense community has pursued this chimera for decades.—
James Stavridis,
The Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2025
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The Asian option looks like a chimera, the Europe option is off the table, and in any case requires a fundamental recalibration of the national idea which is difficult for any country.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Apr. 2016
Noun
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That would be you, the audience, fed a royal jelly concocted of dream, fantasy, myth, popcorn, even delusion.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Many of these protagonists endure the tedium and humiliation of involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, losing days and years to paralyzing inertia, and experiencing terrifying delusions of persecution and betrayal.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the novel progresses, this sense of unreality sharpens.—
Jordan Kisner,
The Atlantic,
4 Apr. 2025
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The initial blitzkrieg against USAID in January had a feel of unreality: the natural reaction was denial.—
Dylan Matthews,
Vox,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The video poignantly contrasts between a life with and without the threat of gun violence through a little girl’s daydream.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
10 Mar. 2025
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But true love isn’t built in daydreams—it’s built in real-time, with real people.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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On far too many occasions, Watson chose deceit over candor, grasping for the illusion of business success and personal acclaim at any cost.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2025
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Yet there are filmmakers who fall prey to the illusion too.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignis fatuus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignis%20fatuus. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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