verb

make (someone) believe something that is not true.

too many theorists have deluded the public

mislead,deceive,fool,take in,trick,dupe,hoodwink,double-cross,gull,beguile,lead on,cheat,defraud,swindle,con,bamboozle,pull a fast one on,lead up the garden path,take for a ride,put one over on,sucker,snooker,hornswoggle,pull a swifty on,cozen,illude