disbelief

noun

dis·​be·​lief ˌdis-bə-ˈlēf How to pronounce disbelief (audio)
Synonyms of disbeliefnext
: 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
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.
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026 Framed against the clear blue sky, the pictures of a single missile hurtling toward the building and men raising their arms in disbelief as the structure fell to the ground were widely distributed at the time. Max Butterworth, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026 For a moment, Team Venezuela seemed suspended between disbelief and release — and then, all at once, the players erupted. Rick Maese, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2026 Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rose in the 98th minute and headed in the winner against Real Madrid, a finish so unlikely that even Jose Mourinho watched in disbelief. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disbelief

Word History

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disbelief was in 1639

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disbelief. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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

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