disillusioned when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disillusioned when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of disappointment or loss of faith that occurs at a specific moment or event. Example: "She felt disillusioned when she discovered the truth about the company's practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

They do not seem so disillusioned when cheering for him.

The New York Times - Sports

Norman was deeply disillusioned when his own church leaders backed Wilson.

The New York Times - Books

Some interviewed by Dr. Horgan told of becoming disillusioned when other group members stole or robbed banks.

The New York Times

"I felt disillusioned when I watched Diane Sawyer look at my magazine and throw it over her shoulder.

The New York Times - Magazine

Conservatives were disillusioned when Mr. Brown immediately crossed party lines in support of a Democratic jobs bill — a move that reflected the sentiment back home.

The New York Times

Man is profoundly disillusioned when he finds that nothing in life quite comes up to his published announcement of it; his spirit is eaten away.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Kev Baker from Truth Frequency Radio said: "It's disillusioning when people who I consider my peers are more interested in focusing on their own agendas instead of pulling together and sharing our common goal.

Vice

The disillusion when creating deformed identities online to make us feel more interesting than we really are.

The New York Times

Lucia Berlin says, of the incident, to Kleinzahler: "The disillusion when he hit the kid and the dog was Awful for me".

The New Yorker

The story of this man's anger and grief, and of his subsequent disillusion when he realized that there was in fact no terrorist-Saddam connection, is a primal drama of considerable power.

The New Yorker

The PbR hype cycle seems to follow a well-established pattern in the aid business, which I call the microfinance syndrome: policy entrepreneur comes up with whizzy new idea → massive overselling to donors → disillusion when it fails to produce predicted miraculous results → reduced to niche product as we learn when the new snake oil might actually be worth applying.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disillusioned when" to clearly link a feeling of disappointment to a specific event or realization. This helps to establish a cause-and-effect relationship in your writing.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "disillusioned when" repeatedly in formal writing can sound monotonous. Consider replacing it with stronger verbs or more varied sentence structures to maintain reader engagement. For instance, use alternatives like "disappointed upon realizing" or "lost faith after" to add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disillusioned when" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a relative clause, modifying a noun or pronoun by describing the state of being disillusioned and the circumstance that triggered it. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Encyclopedias

14%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disillusioned when" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed construction used to convey a sense of disappointment or lost faith triggered by a particular event or realization. Ludwig confirms the correctness and common usage of this phrase. Analysis of various sources reveals that it appears most often in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. When using this phrase, ensure a clear connection between the feeling of disillusionment and the specific cause. To avoid monotony in formal writing, consider using synonyms such as "disappointed upon realizing" or "lost faith after". The prevalence of "disillusioned when" across numerous authoritative sources underscores its acceptability and effectiveness in expressing nuanced sentiments of disappointment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became disenchanted when

Substitutes "disillusioned" with "disenchanted", maintaining a similar meaning, and keeps "when" to indicate the timing of the disillusionment.

disappointed upon realizing

Replaces "disillusioned" with "disappointed" and rephrases "when" to "upon realizing", focusing on the moment of realization.

lost faith after

Uses "lost faith" to convey the disillusionment and replaces "when" with "after", emphasizing the change in belief following an event.

became cynical after

Substitutes "disillusioned" with "cynical", indicating a more bitter disappointment, and replaces "when" with "after".

had their hopes dashed when

Employs a more figurative expression, "had their hopes dashed", to describe the disappointment and retains "when" to introduce the triggering event.

was let down upon seeing

Replaces "disillusioned" with "let down" for a milder tone and rephrases "when" to "upon seeing", emphasizing the visual aspect of the disappointment.

felt betrayed after

Uses "felt betrayed" to express a stronger sense of disappointment and replaces "when" with "after", highlighting the emotional impact of the event.

suffered a setback after

Replaces "disillusioned" with "suffered a setback", focusing on the negative consequences, and uses "after" instead of "when".

was shocked to discover

Emphasizes the element of surprise in the disappointment, using "shocked to discover" in place of "disillusioned when".

realized with dismay

Expresses a similar feeling of disappointment through a realization of dismay, changing the structure from adjective + when to verb + adverb

FAQs

How can I use "disillusioned when" in a sentence?

Use "disillusioned when" to connect a feeling of disappointment or loss of faith to a specific event or realization. For example: "He became disillusioned when he saw the reality of the political system."

What are some alternatives to "disillusioned when"?

You can use alternatives like "disappointed upon realizing", "lost faith after", or "became cynical after" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "disillusioned when" or "disappointed when"?

"Disillusioned" suggests a stronger sense of disappointment and a loss of idealism, while "disappointed" is generally milder. "Disillusioned when" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, but consider the intensity of the emotion you wish to convey. If you want a less intense version, consider "disappointed upon realizing".

Can "disillusioned when" be used to describe a sudden realization?

Yes, "disillusioned when" can effectively describe a sudden realization that leads to disappointment. For example: "She was disillusioned when she discovered the company's unethical practices."