delude

To deceive into believing something which is false; to lead into error; to dupe.

Ralph Wiggum is generally employed as a bottomless fount of glorious non sequiturs, but in “I Love Lisa” he stands in for every oblivious chump who ever deluded himself into thinking that with persistence, determination, and a pure heart he can win the girl of his dreams.

To delude the nation by an airy phantom.

To frustrate or disappoint.

It deludes thy search.