Deludes

To delude is to mislead or deceive someone into believing something that is not true, often through false promises or appearances. It involves creating a false impression or a distorted understanding of reality. The act of deluding can be intentional or unintentional, but the outcome is always a state of being misled. This can happen in numerous areas, from personal relationships to financial transactions, and can have varying degrees of severity, ranging from harmless mistakes to significant harms.

Deludes meaning with examples

• The charismatic con artist worked to delude his investors, using complex schemes and empty promises to convince them to pour their life savings into his non-existent ventures. His false claims about incredible returns soon vanished, leaving many families in devastating debt and loss.
• She tried to delude herself that he was still in love with her, constantly reinterpreting his aloof behavior and infrequent calls as signs of his busy schedule. Her hopeful outlook began crumbling as evidence mounted, and his behavior turned cold and uncaring.
• Marketing often attempts to delude consumers into buying products through clever advertising techniques, often highlighting minimal features and concealing flaws and downsides. The goal being to exaggerate product benefits, and create a sense of need.
• A magician's act is intended to delude the audience, creating illusions through trickery and misdirection. While the audience knows they're being deceived, they willingly accept the charade, enjoying the wonder and spectacle of the performance.