Delusive

France, by the perfidy of her leaders, has utterly disgraced the tone of lenient counsel in the cabinets of princes, and has taught kings to tremble at what will hereafter be called the delusive plausibilities of moral politicians. ❋ Various (1910)

Cook called the delusive point Cape Flattery and added: "It is in this very latitude (48 degrees 15 minutes) that geographers have placed the pretended Straits of Juan de Fuca; but we saw nothing like it; nor is there the least possibility that any such thing ever existed." ❋ Unknown (1903)

The alternative will be called delusive, for, in European literature at least, there is no word-symbol that does not imply a spoken sound, and no excellence without euphony. ❋ Walter Alexander Raleigh (1891)

In fact, the same 'delusive' powers which he had earlier employed when dancing with the cowgirls -- making each believe he was dancing with her and her alone -- are now being used to satisfy his wives. ❋ W. G. Archer (1943)

Therefore the learning of many languages is injudicious, inasmuch as it arouses the belief in the possession of dexterity, and, as a matter of fact, it lends a kind of delusive importance to social intercourse. ❋ Richard Bartholdt (1893)

Eastern peasants, living in the very thick of every conceivable kind of delusive influence. ❋ Samuel Butler (1868)

But not all shifts in public opinion are delusive or temporary. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Those performing English/French translation must be aware however, of the many delusive cognates, known as ‘false friends,’ in the two nomenclatures. ❋ Unknown (2009)

In 1924, during the delusive era of "Coolidge Prosperity" when the Republicans ran the incumbent "Silent Cal" and the Democrats a Wall Street lawyer, John W. Davis, the shrinking cadre of surviving beleaguered Progressives lacked a candidate worth voting for. ❋ Bernard Weisberger (2011)

There's something deeper, more repugnant; a quality so malignant that people literally waste years of their precious lives in its delusive grasp: Self-Importance. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Forget every other delusive sports comparison you may have heard: Elena Kagan's Senate confirmation hearings are an impeccable doppelganger to soccer's main event. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Without science, Alice Bodington felt, religion was "as a fairy tale or an opium dream, delusive though exquisitely fair, it can give no permanent support, no real comfort". ❋ Richard Holmes (2010)

This wish is shown to be delusive — "behold, the horrid thing stands at his bedside" — and thus generative of ❋ Unknown (2008)

"It's delusive to say that you are some kind of pious post-historical automaton [for whom] five million years of tribalism have just evaporated," you said, before adding: "I think I'm pretty free of racism, but I get little impulses, urges and atavisms now and then." ❋ Unknown (2009)

CPT is a theater/poetry anti-school-conversation, a view of the school, the delusive force-feeding of popular culture, from an outside a newly constructed space where we can see all socially-argumentative sides tugging and how we have been tugged. ❋ EILEEN (2009)

Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? ❋ The Orator (2009)

I also want to refresh my knowledge of the works of Bruno Schulz, one of the writers who was an influence on the novel and who provides an epigraph to it "Deep inside the town there open up, so to speak, double streets, mendacious and delusive streets." ❋ Unknown (2009)

Then there are the darker definitions: something that lacks firmness, solidity, or reality; a delusive scheme; a state of booming economic activity (as in a stock market) that often ends in a sudden collapse. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The belief that [aliens] [reside] in one's nose is a [delusion]. ❋ Doc_B (2015)

His delusion [caused] him to [judge] [others]. ❋ J.Wil888 (2009)

"[Denilson] got [injured] [on purpose]" You're suffering from delusion big-time ❋ Adam Bernstein (2008)

"I didn't see it" "The referee played as much [stoppage time] as was needed. The [linesman] definitely said [4 minutes]" "'If thats a foul I'm suffering from delusion' 'You are mate! " ❋ Andrew Shipley (2008)

[Luvpreet]: is that a flying octopus? Mei:naw ur just [delusioning]! [Hallucinating] ❋ Melodyxxlove (2011)

[Did you] see [that guy]? delusions? he's a prime-lookin' [star-gazer]. ❋ Matt-tay-o (2005)

delusions is [deluded] and [trite] beyond his wrong and never mind his right to be gay, for [mardi gras] he stole transexuals bras.. ❋ Skypnd- (2005)

"I'd rather listen to [stray cats] in heat than one more minute of this crap, these guys have [musician delusion]." "No dude, I'm sure that you'll be discovered in this midwestern [dive bar], (under his breath as friend walks away) wow he's totally got musician delusion!" ❋ Ms Keepin Real (2012)

Clearly [not the sharpest tool in the shed], [Carl] [nonetheless] suffered from delusions of adequacy. ❋ Ntvnykr (2006)

When [looking into the mirror] yesterday, I [felt] like I had the [whipgraft delusion]. ❋ SaikoRyder (2021)