Definition of beliefnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word belief different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of belief are credence, credit, and faith. While all these words mean "assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance," belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer.

my belief that I had caught all the errors

When is credence a more appropriate choice than belief?

While in some cases nearly identical to belief, credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent.

a theory now given credence by scientists

When can credit be used instead of belief?

Although the words credit and belief have much in common, credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof.

gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witness

In what contexts can faith take the place of belief?

While the synonyms faith and belief are close in meaning, faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

an unshakable faith in God

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belief Although congregations have elders, families are the main conduit for ritual and belief. Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 Though the Khoslas have been understood as the Seahawks’ next owners for more than a month, the belief around the league is that no major changes with the Seattle organization will take place imminently. Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 What remains is the belief that his life can still become something other than the story told about him. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Sunday’s attack on Kenscoff pierced the belief that security in the troubled Caribbean country was improving. Pierre-Richard Luxama, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief
Noun
  • Finite’s founder, Amy Gardner, has producing credits on the likes of And Then Come the Nightjars, La Bohème, Honeytrap, and My House, and worked on the stage productions of Nuclear Children and The Joy of Text.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Pro plan includes 1 million credits per month, plus the option to generate up to 450,000 additional monthly credits at no cost.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The family explored private healthcare for another opinion, but the first consultation didn’t go to plan.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The ruling Thursday said the newspaper did not have sufficient cause to terminate Karen Attiah, who at the time was the last Black full-time member of the Post’s opinion desk.
    Corey Williams, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • While the public messaging centered on their faith in Painter, the organization had concerns that Painter had not yet made the proper adjustments to succeed in the majors.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The organization has formed a coalition with 70 other groups, including faith leaders, business executives, unions and other voting rights advocates.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • On his mind are various ideas for addressing social upheaval.
    Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • While the settlement may put Meta investors' minds at ease for now, while setting a perhaps reassuring precedent for the rest of social media, analysts don't think the Mark Zuckerberg company is completely out of the legal woods.
    Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Yes, the Greeks made remarkable advances in mathematics, but mostly in geometry, which is about solid, stable objects and uses a strict hierarchy of axioms, rules, and procedures—very Platonic.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • So rather than roll those binary axioms up into a conclusion, there is an easier way to judge the scale of the future of AI, even if not its shape.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This concludes a much more low-key episode than the pilot but one that keeps its characters in full view while nudging each mystery carefully forward.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In Carney’s view, however, Canada has been attacked by the United States, which for decades has been one of its closest partners and allies.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • An inactive bill on human remains has been revived in the final stretch of the state Legislature’s regular session and entirely refashioned to add a level of certainty to the Midway Rising mega project.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Blonde loosens the plot, leaning into the unreliability of memory and the false truths that occupy the gaps between love and certainty.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Family says risks remain despite convictions The court also ordered about $223,500 in compensation for Inuma’s legal heirs and about $74,500 for Tapullima, the woman wounded in the attack.
    Steven Grattan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The artifacts cited in this particular conviction include a bust of Cleopatra, items from a princess’s grave and a stone slab affiliated with Tutankhamun.
    News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Belief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belief. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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