adjective

disillusioned

/ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒənd/ · say it: dis·uh·LOO·zhuhnd

disappointed after losing belief

In more detail

disappointed because you have discovered that something is not as good as you believed it to be, or because your hopes or beliefs were wrong

Examples

After working there for a year, she became disillusioned with the company's poor treatment of employees.

How to use disillusioned

Disillusioned describes a deeper disappointment than merely being let down—it involves a fundamental shift in belief after discovering reality falls short of expectations. It often carries an emotional weight suggesting loss of faith in something previously trusted, and is common in political, professional, or personal contexts where idealism meets harsh reality.

Common phrases

become disillusioned
disillusioned with
disillusioned by
grow disillusioned
disillusioned voter

Synonyms

disappointed · disenchanted · let down · deflated · cynical

Opposites

optimistic · idealistic · hopeful

Word family

disillusion (noun/verb) · disillusionment (noun) · disillusioning (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'disillusioned' and 'delusional' interchangeably, but they are opposites: disillusioned means having lost false beliefs, while delusional means holding false beliefs.

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