delusive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   giving a false or misleading impression; tending to deceive

   The apparent calm was delusive, because the river was still rising upstream.

2. 2
   adj

   based on a false belief or contrary to reality

   He abandoned the delusive hope that the investment could never lose value.

Formed from delude + -ive, ultimately from Latin deludere, 'to mock, deceive, or play false,' combining de- with ludere, 'to play.' Delusive describes something that produces or supports a false belief; unlike delusional, it does not primarily describe a person experiencing a delusion.

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