the denial of the existence of any basis for knowledge or truth
b.
the general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion, etc.
: also ethical nihilism
2.
the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in existence
3. Politics
a.
the doctrine that existing social, political, and economic institutions must be completely destroyed in order to make way for new institutions
b. [N-]
a movement in Russia (c. 1860-1917) which advocated such revolutionary reform and attempted to carry it out through the use of terrorism and assassination
c. Loosely
any violent revolutionary movement involving the use of terrorism
Derived forms
nihilist (ˈnihilist)
noun
nihilistic (ˌnihilˈistic)
adjective
Word origin
< L nihil (see nihil) + -ism
Examples of 'nihilism' in a sentence
nihilism
Those who want to junk the palace are playing to the current mood of political and constitutional nihilism.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This " moral nihilism "has proved both irresponsible and politically counter-productive.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
And yet their new songs still burn with the rebellious glamour of nihilism, despair and alienation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Conversely, how can those who proclaim the virtue of tolerance avoid undermining their claim with an implicit endorsement of moral nihilism?
Christianity Today (2000)
Word lists with
nihilism
Philosophical schools and doctrines
1 (noun)
Definition
a total rejection of all established authority and institutions
These disillusioned students embraced agnosticism, atheism, and nihilism.
Synonyms
negativity
I hate negativity - I can't stand people who moan all the time.
rejection
his rejection of our values
denial
This religion teaches denial of the flesh.
disbelief
She looked at him in disbelief.
scepticism
cynicism
I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times.
pessimism
renunciation
a renunciation of terrorism
atheism
He pondered atheism before becoming a minister.
repudiation
agnosticism
unbelief
Its purpose was to study atheism and unbelief.
abnegation
He attacked `society' for its abnegation of responsibility.
nonbelief
2 (noun)
Definition
a total rejection of all established authority and institutions
This moral nihilism has proved both irresponsible and politically counter-productive.
Synonyms
anarchy
Their liberal traditions were slipping into anarchy.
disorder
lawlessness
Lawlessness is a major problem.
3 (noun)
Synonyms
nothingness
There might be something beyond the grave, you know, and not just nothingness.
blank
Everything was a complete blank.
oblivion
Most of these performers will fail and sink into oblivion.
emptiness
She wanted an artistic hobby to fill the emptiness of her days.
negation
nullity
nonexistence
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abnegation
Definition
the act of giving something up
He attacked `society' for its abnegation of responsibility.
Synonyms
giving up,
surrender,
refusal,
rejection,
abandonment,
renunciation,
sacrifice,
forbearance,
disallowance,
relinquishment,
eschewal,
abjuration
in the sense of atheism
Definition
the belief that there is no God
He pondered atheism before becoming a minister.
Synonyms
nonbelief,
disbelief,
scepticism,
infidelity,
paganism,
unbelief,
freethinking,
godlessness,
irreligion,
heathenism
in the sense of blank
Definition
the condition of not understanding
Everything was a complete blank.
Synonyms
void,
vacuum,
vacancy,
emptiness,
nothingness,
vacuity,
tabula rasa
Nearby words of
nihilism
nightly
nightmare
nightmarish
nihilism
nihilist
nil
nimble
Synonyms of 'nihilism'
nihilism
Explore 'nihilism' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cynicism
Definition
the attitude or beliefs of a cynic
I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times.
Synonyms
scepticism,
pessimism,
sarcasm,
misanthropy,
sardonicism
in the sense of denial
This religion teaches denial of the flesh.
Synonyms
renunciation,
giving up,
rejection,
spurning,
abstention,
abdication,
repudiation,
forswearing,
disavowal,
abnegation,
relinquishment,
eschewal
in the sense of disbelief
She looked at him in disbelief.
Synonyms
scepticism,
doubt,
distrust,
mistrust,
incredulity,
unbelief,
dubiety
in the sense of emptiness
She wanted an artistic hobby to fill the emptiness of her days.
Synonyms
void,
gap,
vacuum,
empty space,
nothingness,
blank space,
free space,
vacuity
in the sense of lawlessness
Lawlessness is a major problem.
Synonyms
anarchy,
disorder,
chaos,
reign of terror,
mob rule,
mobocracy,
ochlocracy
in the sense of negation
Definition
a negative thing or condition
Synonyms
nothingness,
blank,
void,
nullity,
vacuity,
nonexistence
in the sense of oblivion
Definition
the condition of being forgotten or disregarded
Most of these performers will fail and sink into oblivion.