disbelief

noun

dis·​be·​lief ˌdis-bə-ˈlēf How to pronounce disbelief (audio)
: the act of disbelieving : mental rejection of something as untrue

Examples of disbelief in a Sentence

She stared at him in utter disbelief. their story explaining their absence was met with frank disbelief
Recent Examples on the Web Just recently, medical colleagues of my generation watched in disbelief as first-year students at UCLA’s School of Medicine were forced to attend ... Richard T. Bosshardt, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024 The duo both let out an astonished gasp and awkwardly stare in disbelief. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024 Well, Steph brought now 11-year-old Riley to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center on Friday, and fans were in disbelief at how much and how tall she’s grown. Pueng Vongs, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024 His head dropped in disbelief, Evelyn’s mom recalled. Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024 Through tears – and adorably delirious and gleeful laughter – Kennedy is awestruck, swaying back and forth to the beat of the song in disbelief. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024 Other teammates mobbed and hugged each other, and the fans who made the trip from Henderson, Tennessee, screamed almost in disbelief. Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024 Fans are in disbelief that Ernie Hudson is 78 years old. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024 When Kerr talks about his research at conferences, nurses tend to nod their heads in approval; doctors roll their eyes in disbelief. Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disbelief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disbelief was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near disbelief

Cite this Entry

“Disbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disbelief. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

disbelief

noun
dis·​be·​lief ˌdis-bə-ˈlēf How to pronounce disbelief (audio)
: the act or state of disbelieving : mental rejection of something as untrue

More from Merriam-Webster on disbelief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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