Definition of nihilism
1 a
: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless
- Nihilism is a condition in which all ultimate values lose their value.
- —Ronald H. Nash
b
: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a
: a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility
b
capitalized
: the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination
