Synonyms of belief

belief

noun

bə-ˈlēf 

1

as in credit

mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon

a belief in UFO's led him to relentlessly scan the nighttime skies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• credit
• faith
• axiom
• certainty
• assurance
• conviction
• credence
• principle
• article of faith
• confidence
• doctrine
• law
• philosophy
• tenet
• reliance
• certitude
• precept
• dependence
• trust
• dogma
• insistence
• positiveness
• hope
• sureness
• dogmatism
• fanaticism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doubt
• disbelief
• unbelief
• discredit
• uncertainty
• skepticism
• nonbelief
• suspicion
• distrust
• mistrust

2

as in opinion

an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge

it's my belief that the sky is blue because our eyes perceive the color blue easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opinion
• mind
• view
• conviction
• feeling
• attitude
• impression
• perception
• notion
• sentiment
• judgment
• verdict
• idea
• persuasion
• assumption
• observation
• estimate
• eye
• estimation
• theory
• faith
• thought
• comment
• decision
• presumption
• concept
• hypothesis
• determination
• guess
• conception
• advice
• suggestion
• viewpoint
• presupposition
• esteem
• stance
• conjecture
• say
• conclusion
• hunch
• recommendation
• reflection
• perspective
• position
• remark
• stand
• credence
• standpoint
• credit
• outlook
• input
• deliverance
• take
• surmise
• shoes
• angle
• obiter dictum
• counterview
• slant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• truth

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

Recent Examples of belief

Drawing from the histories of women detained for their political beliefs, the work explores how care, resistance and survival persist even under the most oppressive conditions. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026

Punxsutawney club members say there are two types of people who show up at Phil’s spot about 80 miles (123 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh — those seeking to validate their beliefs and doubters who want to confirm their own skepticism. —Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026

Punxsutawney club members say there are two types of people who show up at Phil’s spot about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh — those seeking to validate their beliefs and doubters who want to confirm their own skepticism. —Mark Scolforo, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026

No city leader, especially none with Mamdani’s political beliefs, should ever force retirees into it. —Marianne Pizzitola, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026