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Prepositions after verbs

Disillusion with and disillusion by

People are usually disillusioned with something or by an experience.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with disillusion?

The adjective and passive form are commonly followed by with for the thing causing disappointment. By can introduce the cause or agent.

disillusioned with politics
disillusioned by the scandal

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
be disillusioned with + thing

Feeling disappointed about something

With is the most common choice after the adjective or passive form.

Many voters are disillusioned with the system
2
be disillusioned by + event/person

Naming the cause

By emphasises what caused the disappointment.

She was disillusioned by the company's behaviour
3
disillusion + person

Causing someone to lose illusions

The verb can take a direct object.

The experience disillusioned him

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
disillusioned with
He became disillusioned with university life.
disappointed in something
disillusioned by
They were disillusioned by repeated failures.
focus on the cause
disillusion someone
The war disillusioned many people.
cause loss of idealism
disillusion about
She is disillusioned with the industry.
about is less idiomatic here

Common mistakes

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

Using by when talking generally

With is more natural for broad dissatisfaction.

✕ She is disillusioned by politics. ✓ She is disillusioned with politics.

Using about instead of with

With is the standard choice.

✕ He became disillusioned about the project. ✓ He became disillusioned with the project.

Confusing the verb and adjective

The verb directly takes an object.

✕ The news disillusioned with me. ✓ The news disillusioned me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Many citizens are disillusioned ___ the government.
2. She was disillusioned ___ the manager's promises.
3. The experience ___ him completely.

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Frequently asked questions

Is disillusion usually a verb or adjective?

The adjective form disillusioned is especially common.

Can I use both with and by?

Yes. With focuses on the thing disliked, while by highlights the cause.

Is disillusion about correct?

It is less idiomatic than disillusioned with in standard English.

dabble, in, dabble, with "damage to" or "damage by"? dance to, with, on, in or for? "dangle from" or "dangle in"? dare to, for, on, as or at? dash to, into, out, from or on? daydream about, for, in, of or on? "debate in", "debate on" or "debate with"? deceive by, in, into, on or about? "decide on", "decide to" or "decide by"? declare in, by, on, to or as? decline in, by, from, to or for?

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