as in cynical
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Recent Examples of nihilistic
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
The senior attending physician’s behavior has worried many in the hospital as he's appeared more nihilistic and short-tempered than usual.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
But a 2021 set at a notorious homeless encampment in Oakland earned backlash from advocates, who said the band was taking advantage of desperate people to throw aesthetically nihilistic punk shows.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Irony doesn’t have to be nihilistic or despairing.
—Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
In Say Nothing, published in 2019, Keefe effectively solves a decades-old cold case of a missing mother of 10 in Belfast, a killing that illustrates the nihilistic violence and human toll of the Troubles.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Lumalee, the nihilistic Luma from the first movie, makes her first appearance in the sequel here as their personal prison guard.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Looks-maxxing has been described as a nihilistic rejection of society’s values.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The nihilistic Duke is soon recruited by Nazi Germany to crash the British economy through the distribution of counterfeit currency and effectively decide World War II for the German Reich.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
The senior attending physician’s behavior has worried many in the hospital as he's appeared more nihilistic and short-tempered than usual.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
But a 2021 set at a notorious homeless encampment in Oakland earned backlash from advocates, who said the band was taking advantage of desperate people to throw aesthetically nihilistic punk shows.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Irony doesn’t have to be nihilistic or despairing.
—Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
In Say Nothing, published in 2019, Keefe effectively solves a decades-old cold case of a missing mother of 10 in Belfast, a killing that illustrates the nihilistic violence and human toll of the Troubles.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Lumalee, the nihilistic Luma from the first movie, makes her first appearance in the sequel here as their personal prison guard.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Looks-maxxing has been described as a nihilistic rejection of society’s values.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The nihilistic Duke is soon recruited by Nazi Germany to crash the British economy through the distribution of counterfeit currency and effectively decide World War II for the German Reich.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilistic
Adjective
-
The proper response to this is a cynical groan.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Season 2, in the big picture, takes a cynical approach to modern relationships, asking if love is an inherently selfish endeavor within a capitalistic society, where your quality of life is so heavily influenced by what’s in your bank account.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.—
Erin Allday,
San Francisco Chronicle,
22 Feb. 2026
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Known for his spare, unforgiving style and darkly comic fatalistic sensibility, along with his penchant for leather jackets, lots of smoking and a deadpan sense of humor, Tarr was a quintessential arthouse filmmaker.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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New meme shows 'nihilist penguin' walking to a mountain.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Horowitz, for his part, is not pessimistic about where this lands.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
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Yet Kang is pessimistic that users will actually adopt adequate security practices given rabid AI adoption.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nihilistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilistic. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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