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
So big, photos of Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton carrying their Balenciaga bags look like optical illusions.
—
Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
From the front, the style is simultaneously stunning and mindboggling, almost giving an optical illusion effect.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 29 Oct. 2024
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.
—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
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion 
Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
From the front, the style is simultaneously stunning and mindboggling, almost giving an optical illusion effect.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 29 Oct. 2024
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.
—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
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical illusion
Noun
-
With an incoming administration likely to stall or roll back green initiatives, now was the time to double down on renewable solutions, not to hedge bets on fossil fuel stopgaps that offer, at best, an illusion of progress.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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Creating the illusion of pulling a gun on officers is a common suicide-by-cop move, Weiss said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As long as Boston’s center depth is among the league’s absolute worst, the playoffs are going to be a pipe dream.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
-
But their plan for transforming it into a venue isn’t a pipe dream.—
Curbed editors,
Curbed,
1 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
There have been no sightings, no fleeting apparitions.—
David Ornstein,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
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Harker’s lonely investigations are often interrupted by jump scares courtesy of dark apparitions with the silhouettes of nesting dolls.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Vulture,
12 July 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 23 Jan. 2025.
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