delusion

Plural: delusions

Noun

• A false belief firmly maintained despite contradictory evidence.
• (psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
• a mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea
  • "he has delusions of competence"
• the act of deluding; deception by creating illusory ideas
• A false belief that is resistant to confrontation with actual facts.
• The state of being deluded or misled, or process of deluding somebody.
• That which is falsely or delusively believed or propagated; false belief; error in belief.
• A fixed, false belief, that will not change, despite evidence to the contrary.

Examples

• It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
• It was a DELUSION to think he could win against a seasoned Words With Friends player with only vowels.

Synonyms

hallucination, head game, illusion, psychotic belief