delude

/dɪˈluːd/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪlˈud] /dɪˈluːd/ (ame, ipa) · [dɪlˈud] /di-ˈlüd dē-/ (ame, mw)

delude — verb

  • deludepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • deludeshe / she / it
  • deludedpast simple
  • deluding-ing form

1. to get someone to accept a false picture of reality, usually by lying or hiding

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to get someone to accept a false picture of reality, usually by lying or hiding the facts in order to gain an advantage.

例句

The salesman deluded Paloma into paying twice the market price for a used car.

delude + into + gerund

Tara felt deeply deluded when she found out the investment was a complete scam.

passive — feel deluded

同義詞
  • deceive

    broader and more common; can describe a single act of lying or any form of trickery

  • mislead

    less intentional; to cause someone to have a wrong belief without necessarily telling an outright lie

  • trick

    more informal; to deceive someone for amusement, sport, or personal gain

反義詞
  • enlighten

    to give someone the true information and correct their misperception

文法句型

delude + person + into + doing something

delude + person + about + something

be deluded (passive)

常見錯誤

❌The murderer deluded the police.
✅The murderer deceived the police.
💡'Deceive' is the natural choice for a single act of tricking; 'delude' suggests a longer process of making someone believe a false picture.

2. to hold a false belief because the real situation is too painful or uncomfortabl

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to hold a false belief because the real situation is too painful or uncomfortable to accept, especially when you strongly wish the false thing were true.

例句

Ravindra deluded himself that he could pass the exam without opening a single book.

delude + that-clause for wishful thinking

Jack, stop deluding yourself — that knee injury will not heal without proper rest.

imperative: stop deluding yourself

同義詞
  • fool yourself

    less formal than 'delude yourself'; common in everyday speech

  • kid yourself

    very informal; used in phrases like 'Don't kid yourself — you know it's not true'

  • deceive yourself

    more formal and literary; emphasises the conscious choice to ignore the truth

反義詞

文法句型

delude yourself + into + doing something

delude yourself + that-clause

delude yourself + about + something

用法筆記

This sense only works with a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves). It is the most common use of 'delude' in everyday English — far more frequent than the non-reflexive sense.

常見錯誤

❌He deluded that he could win the race.
✅He deluded himself that he could win the race.
💡'Delude' cannot be followed directly by a that-clause without a reflexive pronoun.