disillusioned 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of disillusionednext
1
as in frustrated

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2
as in cynical

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disillusioned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of disillusion
as in disenchanted
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes we were disillusioned when we saw how the movie star acted in real life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disillusioned
Adjective
Republicans hope that by reprising warnings of crime and disorder the party can reenergize their disillusioned base and win back skeptical moderate voters who have drifted over concerns like affordability. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 The vice president then lobbies for his own shot at delivering a message to disillusioned voters. — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
From the 1960s to ’70s, some one million Americans, disillusioned with modern life, left their comfortable homes in cities and suburbs for a totally new way of living. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 But the reality of what the fund has become has left those same leaders disillusioned, Daniel Payne reports. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disillusioned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disillusioned
  1. frustrated
  2. cynical
  3. disenchanted
  4. disappointed
  5. pessimistic
  6. disabused
  7. unfulfilled
  8. misanthropic
Adjective
  • Scholten told Semafor that experience positions Turek to convert frustrated Republicans.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Some parents became so frustrated with the district’s position that the school board vote devolved into shouting from the audience as board members tried to speak over the crowd, video from the meeting showed.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of frustrated
Adjective
  • Such flat, enervating filmmaking makes the whole endeavor a shockingly cynical affair.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In her role for Klara and the Sun, Ortega is cheerful and expressive where Wednesday Addams is deadpan and cynical.
    — Alice Robb, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of cynical
Verb
  • Maher says that the fact that more than half the states allow capital punishment, but are issuing fewer death sentences, shows that the American people are disenchanted with the use of the death penalty.
    — Nate Perez, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But the old dispensation was also something like the countryside of his childhood, which experience has disenchanted.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of disenchanted
Adjective
  • Unfortunately for fans who had been eagerly hoping to see Skarsgård’s wicker member up close and personal in the film, they might be slightly disappointed.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone hoping Luka's generosity would carry over to the concession stands inside would be sorely disappointed.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of disappointed
Adjective
  • For now, the AI anxiety appears confined to credit investors, by nature a more dour and pessimistic bunch than stockholders.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Overall, 63% of the public is pessimistic about the current state of the economy and the outlook, up 1 percentage point from the July survey.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pessimistic
Verb
  • This Penelope is knowing, gossipy, disabused.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • Only when he was disabused of that notion, the source said, would the team’s fortunes change.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Definition of disabused
Adjective
  • From the unfulfilled promise of 40 acres and a mule, to modern-day reparations proposals, initiatives to address the legacy of slavery are entering a new era of political uncertainty.
    — Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • From the unfulfilled promise of 40 acres and a mule, to modern day reparations proposals, initiatives to address the legacy of slavery are entering a new era of political uncertainty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfulfilled
Adjective
  • Another resident within Vision’s head is Ultron (James Spader), the misanthropic genocidal AI originally created by Stark and Bruce Banner to help save humanity.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Known for creating everyone’s favorite psychopath Tom Ripley, Highsmith – played by Helen Mirren – became a controversial figure because of her antisemitic and misanthropic statements.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of misanthropic

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disillusioned
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Cite this Entry

“Disillusioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disillusioned. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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