nihilistic

adjective

as in cynical

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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 nihilistic But there was this paradox in this basic idea that this menacing, nihilistic person [Nile Jarvis] actually infuses her with life. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 15 June 2026 Investigators are continuing to build a picture of the two suspects in the deadly Monday shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego which killed three people, and which law enforcement officials say may have been driven by nihilistic and accelerationist extremism. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 20 May 2026 In season three, this argument has largely taken a cynical, nihilistic turn. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 May 2026 Looksmaxxing embraces superficiality and body dysmorphia, an alarmingly nihilistic online trend that prioritizes physical attractiveness above all else. — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 People were getting tired of dark, nihilistic films. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 16 May 2026 This Man on Fire isn’t designed to be a complex, brutal, nihilistic portrait of vigilantism and violence. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilistic
  1. cynical
  2. fatalistic
  3. nihilist
  4. pessimistic
Adjective
  • His willingness to move to Rio de Janeiro upon taking the job endeared him to the cynical public, as did his decision to call up Neymar to his squad to quieten the noise the forward’s potential exclusion would have brought with it.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Against the run of play, the Atlas Lions won a free kick near the corner of the box after Luc De Fougerolles was booked for a cynical challenge.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • There’s another, less fatalistic response to both the Balogun red card reversal and the economic malaise.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
  • By contrast, Whitehead was fatalistic.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of fatalistic
Adjective
  • Advertisement Just as Nietzsche warned of the dangers of a nihilist moral void leading to societal decay, the current disregard for responsible data practices could erode trust in institutions and perpetuate systemic inequalities.
    — Alice Xiang, Time, 6 May 2026
  • Our impressively multicultural team of street racers now freelance in the shadowy and complex world of covert ops, jetting around the world to take down an increasingly unhinged array of nihilist supervillains.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of nihilist
Adjective
  • Workers are largely pessimistic about AI's impact on jobs, with 32% fearing fewer opportunities and only 6% expecting more, despite a recent shift in executive messaging.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Opinion polls suggest most Americans are proud of our founding story, but deeply conflicted and pessimistic about the future.
    — Terry W. Hartle, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Definition of pessimistic

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Cite this Entry

“Nihilistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilistic. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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