Definition of disbeliefnext
as in skepticism
refusal to accept something as true their story explaining their absence was met with frank disbelief

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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 disbelief Through their love of music, the brothers overcome feelings of disbelief, resentment, and privilege to come to terms with their past and present. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026 Admittedly, his first moments on screen conjure disbelief. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026 Then Evans made another 3, prompting Pitino to turn his back in apparent disbelief. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 After the mid-February storm blanketed Tahoe in 9 feet of snow, mountain residents watched in disbelief as rain washed it away like cotton candy. Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disbelief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disbelief
Noun
  • But the signals kept accumulating, and over time, his skepticism gave way to a new line of inquiry that could transform scientists’ understanding of the two diseases.
    Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
  • There’s often skepticism when a boutique brand scales up.
    Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There have been plenty of doubts about the Braves' starting rotation.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • And if there’s any doubt as to whether the electronics withstand the dangers of space, just take some solace in knowing that even tech built more than 50 years ago can be up to the task.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Tension and incredulity pulsed through Friday’s sentencing hearing, which spanned more than two hours.
    Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Trump has employed a mix of shifting narratives — minerals, national security, the Nobel Peace Prize — with ambiguous threats and asymmetric weapons (tariffs) to sow confusion, incredulity and fear among allies.
    Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Altman is often described, either with reverence or with suspicion, as the greatest pitchman of his generation.
    Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • However, the magazine acknowledged that the Q&A was conducted by email and not live, leading some to believe ad advisor was writing the answers for him, on top of suspicions that the WSJ ad may have been ghost-written as well.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • My own passage into and back out of unbelief—one marked by a close reading of works that earlier illiberal societies had attempted to suppress on religious grounds—has strengthened my liberal commitments.
    Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • But the indirect benefits seem to reflect a posture against green energy, related to unbelief in climate change, and these lead to support for inefficient energy alternatives like nuclear and geothermal and gas-fired turbines.
    Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

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“Disbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbelief. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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