as in nihilistic
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as in fatalist
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Recent Examples of nihilist
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Blood Meridian throws out the Western trope of good versus evil in favor of a nihilist view of a world consumed by violence.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Voisin won Best Actor for his performance as the novel’s nihilist protagonist Meursault.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
There’s no nihilist energy in the song.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Sirāt was the only Neon contender to miss out on a Best Picture spot at the Globes (its noms came in Non-English Language and Score), adding to the feeling that this nihilist epic is the title most at risk of missing with Oscar.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The activist Left is, in truth, nihilist.
—Ayaan Hirsi Ali, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Shooter left notes, symbols, nihilist writings Investigators located the scene where the suspect sparked the fire to set his ambush.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Blood Meridian throws out the Western trope of good versus evil in favor of a nihilist view of a world consumed by violence.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Voisin won Best Actor for his performance as the novel’s nihilist protagonist Meursault.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
There’s no nihilist energy in the song.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
As criminal cases have increased against members of violent nihilist groups, related abuse reports have also risen.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Sirāt was the only Neon contender to miss out on a Best Picture spot at the Globes (its noms came in Non-English Language and Score), adding to the feeling that this nihilist epic is the title most at risk of missing with Oscar.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The activist Left is, in truth, nihilist.
—Ayaan Hirsi Ali, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilist
Adjective
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Margo’s Got Money Troubles premiered the same week as the third season of HBO’s nihilistic teen drama Euphoria, in which Sydney Sweeney’s dead-eyed Cassie has taken to the popular subscription service, dressing up as a seductive puppy and even a pacifier-sucking baby.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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This nihilistic perspective has been a ubiquitous point of departure for prestige television at least since the first season of Succession.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the fatalist in me feels like this stuff is coming.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Senate Bill 6-D, one of the cynical subjects of this special session, would have further weakened Florida’s childhood vaccination rates, which have already sunk too low.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Of course, cynics would say this is an easy way to get laughs, but Galifianakis’ quick wit ensures the unfiltered youngsters don’t always take center stage.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
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The cynics are figures like Sam Bankman-Fried, who built a fortune off of a crypto exchange called FTX, which crashed and burned in the fall of 2022, eventually sending Bankman-Fried to prison for fraud.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.—
Erin Allday,
San Francisco Chronicle,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The character is described as playful but also a realist who’s well aware of society’s unspoken rules.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
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Curry is the ultimate realist and the ultimate dreamer.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In office he's been a pragmatist and some of his doubters are now key allies on some issues, including Democratic Governor Hochul, who is a partner in his push for universal childcare and now this new tax levied on the most wealthy part-time residents of New York City.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
17 Apr. 2026
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Larijani oversaw the bloody repression of protesters in January but was widely seen as a pragmatist, and more moderate than Zolghadr.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nihilist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilist. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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