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Illusive vs Delusive - What's the difference?

illusive | delusive |

As adjectives the difference between illusive and delusive

is that illusive is subject to or pertaining to an illusion, often used in the sense of an unrealistic expectation or an unreachable goal or outcome while delusive is producing delusions.

illusive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Subject to or pertaining to an illusion , often used in the sense of an unrealistic expectation or an unreachable goal or outcome.
    • Testing software completely is an illusive goal.
  • *
    • he could not catch the illusive thing that had sadly perplexed as well as elevated his spirit.

    Usage notes

    * Often confused with elusive.

    Synonyms

    * (pertaining to an illusion) illusory

    Derived terms

    * illusively * illusiveness

    delusive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Producing delusions.
  • Delusional.
  • Inappropriate to reality; forming part of a delusion.
  • * 1849 , Charlotte Brontë, Shirley
    • It seemed calculated to suggest ideas she had no intention to suggest — ideas delusive and disturbing.
  • * {{quote-Don Quixote, passage=I opened my eyes, I rubbed them, and found I was not asleep but thoroughly awake. Nevertheless, I felt my head and breast to satisfy myself whether it was I myself who was there or some empty delusive phantom; but touch, feeling, the collected thoughts that passed through my mind, all convinced me that I was the same then and there that I am this moment.
    • , volume=2 , chapter=XXIII}}