Disillusion

/ˌdɪs.ɪˈluː.ʒən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.

Her disillusion with the political system led her to disengage from voting.

the state of being disenchanted or disappointed.

His experience in the industry was filled with disillusion about the supposed benefits of corporate life.

verb

to cause someone to realize that a belief or an ideal is false.

The documentary aims to disillusion viewers regarding the misconceptions about climate change.

to free from illusion or false belief.

The harsh realities of life can disillusion even the most optimistic among us.

From dis- + illusion, originally used in the sense of 'to free from illusion'.

disillusionment

The feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.

disillusioned youth

Young people who have lost their naive hopes and ideals, typically after experiencing reality.

illusion

A false idea or belief.

disillusionment

The state of being disillusioned.

reality

The state of things as they actually exist.

Getting real

After that meeting, I really had to get real about our chances.

Waking up

He finally woke up to the fact that his dream job was not what he expected.