delude

verb de·lude \di-ˈlüd, dē-\

: to cause (someone) to believe something that is not true

de·lud·edde·lud·ing

Full Definition of DELUDE

transitive verb

: to mislead the mind or judgment of : deceive, trick

obsolete

a : frustrate, disappoint

b : evade, elude

— de·lud·er noun

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Origin of DELUDE

Middle English, from Latin deludere, from de- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DELUDE

Synonyms: bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, deceive, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick

Antonyms: undeceive

Synonym Discussion of DELUDE

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness <tried to deceive me about the cost>. mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional <I was misled by the confusing sign>. delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth <we were deluded into thinking we were safe>. beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving <was beguiled by false promises>.