disbelief

noun

ˌdis-bə-ˈlēf How to pronounce disbelief (audio)
Definition of disbeliefnext
as in skepticism
refusal to accept something as true their story explaining their absence was met with frank disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Skateboarding Is Not for Girls is competing in the feature film selection, and Duma is still in disbelief. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 Berkeley resident Max Lynn watched in disbelief last month as the City Council voted to eliminate over half of the parking spaces on Hopkins Street in favor of bike lanes. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 The Cardinals' dugout was in disbelief, with multiple players in awe of Báez's historic feat. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 He was surrounded by family, twelve sets of hands holding his lifeless body, sending him onward with heartache and love and stunned disbelief. — Dr. Lucy McBride, Time, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disbelief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disbelief
  1. skepticism
  2. doubt
  3. incredulity
  4. suspicion
  5. unbelief
Noun
  • Among attendees of the conference, however, a clearer skepticism emerged about Warsh’s endgame.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Warsh on Friday reiterated his skepticism about providing such guidance or even outlining his broad approach to interest-rate policy.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of skepticism
Noun
  • In most other franchises, a 4-2 road trip through two New York boroughs could calm the speculation, but one with such enormous standards — and that has already taken drastic action — doesn’t receive that benefit of the doubt.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Without a doubt, opponents of the deal will seize on that as evidence of its being exploitative and will demand renegotiation on that basis.
    — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of doubt
Noun
  • James extended both arms in incredulity during the pre-overtime break.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • Hoffman’s mother, when Scheiber later speaks to her, is well acquainted with this flavor of incredulity.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of incredulity
Noun
  • For decades after India’s independence, suspicion of the United States permeated the Indian political class, defense establishment, bureaucracy, and scientific community.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Many Kurds initially regarded al-Sharaa’s government with suspicion.
    — Hogir al Abdo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspicion
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
Definition of unbelief

Browse Nearby Words

disbars
disbelief
disbeliefs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbelief. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All