disillusionment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disillusionment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be. Example: "After years of working in the industry, she felt a deep sense of disillusionment with the corporate world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Irish people's anger and disillusionment may have thrown a lifeline to Sinn Féin and rescued the party from total irrelevance in the Republic but its united Ireland project is more unrealisable than ever.

The Guardian

I'd hoped that the commonly felt disillusionment with the two main parties would have translated into a more radical shift in voter behaviour, and that both the Greens and Craig Murray would have polled better than they did.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The feeling out there is anger, not disillusionment.

The Guardian

Turnout is likely to be low due to such disillusionment with the political and economic elite.

The Guardian

Duda's strong showing in a first round on 10 May, which helped force a runoff, has exposed a rising disillusionment with the long-ruling Civic Platform party, which Komorowski is allied with.

The Guardian

Morwell is emerging as an intriguing contest, a test of the depth of the disillusionment with major political parties.

The Guardian

Moderate incumbent Bronisław Komorowski is almost certain to win in a second round runoff, but disillusionment with mainstream politics has seen some voters drift towards radical candidates.

The Guardian

Sadly, bringing politics into disrepute, which is blamed for the irresistible rise of political disillusionment – and of which the belief that politicians are habitually lying is a basic ingredient – goes unpunished in too many ways to single out this case from the rest.

The Guardian - Opinion

Labour's leadership contenders are likely to examine the analysis closely, especially the emphasis on the need for the party to win over Tory voters, something Labour regarded as less important in the 2010-15 parliament due to the disillusionment with the Liberal Democrats.

The Guardian

Public disillusionment with mainstream parties following the expenses scandal could prove a boon, she claims.

The Guardian

Miliband admitted that disillusionment with Westminster politics, building for a long time, had led some traditional Labour communities to choose Ukip, adding in a direct message to Ukip supporters: "It is not prejudiced to worry about immigration".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disillusionment" to convey a sense of profound disappointment stemming from the realization that something is not as good as it seemed, often involving a loss of faith or idealism.

Common error

Avoid using "disillusionment" when a situation simply causes mild disappointment. "Disillusionment" implies a deeper loss of faith or a shattering of previously held beliefs. For milder letdowns, consider using "disappointment" or "frustration".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disillusionment" is as a noun. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a state of disappointment and loss of faith, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Disillusionment" is a noun denoting a profound disappointment arising from the realization that something is not as good as it was believed to be. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its prevalence across diverse contexts, notably in news, business, and scientific domains. It is important to differentiate "disillusionment" from mere disappointment, as it implies a deeper loss of faith or idealism. When aiming for alternative expressions, consider phrases like "disenchantment" or "loss of faith" to capture similar nuances. When writing, be mindful to use "disillusionment" when appropriate – meaning situations where one discovers the reality does not match what one expected or believed to be true.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disenchantment

Direct synonym, indicating a loss of enchantment or positive feelings.

disappointment

A more general term for the feeling of being let down or unsatisfied.

crushed idealism

Suggests a loss of naive or idealistic beliefs, often after a harsh reality check.

loss of faith

Focuses on the loss of trust or belief in something, which is a core component of disillusionment.

bitter disappointment

Highlights the intensity and negative emotional impact of the letdown.

dashed hopes

Emphasizes the disappointment arising from unfulfilled expectations.

unmet expectations

Focuses on the gap between what was anticipated and the reality experienced.

sense of betrayal

Highlights the feeling of being let down or deceived by someone or something.

rude awakening

Implies a sudden and unpleasant realization of the truth.

loss of innocence

Focuses on the end of naivety and the start of understanding harsher realities.

FAQs

How to use "disillusionment" in a sentence?

Use "disillusionment" to describe a state of being disappointed because you discovered that something is not as good as you believed it was. For example, "After the scandal, many voters experienced "disillusionment with politics"".

What can I say instead of "disillusionment"?

You can use alternatives like "disenchantment", "loss of faith", or "bitter disappointment" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "disillusionment with" or "disillusionment of"?

"Disillusionment with" is the standard and more commonly used prepositional phrase. "Disillusionment of" is less frequent but can be used in specific contexts, though "with" is generally preferred.

What's the difference between "disappointment" and "disillusionment"?

"Disappointment" is a general feeling of sadness or dissatisfaction that results when something is not as good as expected. "Disillusionment" is a stronger, more profound feeling that involves a loss of faith or idealism after discovering that something is not what it seemed.