Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

disillusioned: choosing the right preposition

Disillusioned is most commonly followed by with. By and about are also used in specific contexts, while at and after usually belong to a different sentence structure.

Quick answer

Common uses of disillusioned

Use disillusioned with for disappointment in a person, system, or situation. Disillusioned by names the cause of the disappointment. Disillusioned about is less common but possible for a topic or belief. At and after are usually separate time or place adjuncts, not standard complements after disillusioned.

Many voters became disillusioned with politics.
She felt disillusioned by the company's behaviour.
He grew disillusioned about the project.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
disillusioned with + person or thing

Feeling disappointed in something once admired

Use disillusioned with for a person, institution, belief, or activity that no longer seems good or worthwhile.

He became disillusioned with the education system.
They were disillusioned with their leadership.
2
disillusioned by + cause

Naming what caused the feeling

Use disillusioned by to identify the event, behaviour, or experience that created the disappointment.

She was disillusioned by the broken promises.
Many employees felt disillusioned by recent decisions.
3
disillusioned about + topic

Talking about a belief or issue

Disillusioned about is less common but can be used for a topic or idea someone has reconsidered negatively.

He became disillusioned about fame.
She grew disillusioned about the whole process.
4
disillusioned after + event

Referring to time after an experience

After is usually a time adjunct, not a fixed complement of disillusioned. It introduces the event that came before the feeling.

She felt disillusioned after the election.
Many people became disillusioned after years of conflict.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
disillusioned with
They are disillusioned with the party.
no longer believing in or admiring something
disillusioned by
She was disillusioned by the corruption scandal.
showing the cause of the disappointment
disillusioned about
He became disillusioned about celebrity culture.
negative change in attitude toward a topic or idea
disillusioned at
She was disillusioned at the conference.
At usually introduces a place or event, not the object of disillusionment
disillusioned after
He felt disillusioned after the trial.
After introduces the time or experience preceding the feeling

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using disillusioned at for the object of disappointment

At normally refers to a location or event, not what someone has lost faith in.

✕ They were disillusioned at the government. ✓ They were disillusioned with the government.

Confusing with and by

With names the thing no longer admired. By names the cause of the feeling.

✕ She was disillusioned with the scandal. ✓ She was disillusioned by the scandal.

Using after as the main complement

After usually gives time context rather than the object of disillusionment.

✕ He became disillusioned after politics. ✓ He became disillusioned with politics.

Using about for a person

About works better with topics or ideas than with people or institutions.

✕ She was disillusioned about her manager. ✓ She was disillusioned with her manager.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Many citizens became disillusioned ___ politics.
2. She felt disillusioned ___ the company's repeated delays.
3. He became disillusioned ___ fame after a few years.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is disillusioned with the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to express losing faith in a person, system, or idea.

Can I use disillusioned by?

Yes. Use by when you want to mention the event or behaviour that caused the feeling.

Why is disillusioned at uncommon?

At usually refers to place, time, or events rather than the object someone has lost faith in.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account