as in cynical
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Recent Examples of nihilistic
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
Locally and nationally, youth involvement in nihilistic violent extremism has accelerated since the COVID pandemic, data shows.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The nihilistic attachment between its doomed lovers, Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, was too stormy and unruly for my tastes.
—Radhika Jones, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, said the number of nihilistic violent extremists targeting children is growing nationwide.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Industry has a darker, more nihilistic worldview.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The non-profit also found a teenager who stabbed people outside a mosque in Turkey appeared to have been influenced by nihilistic subcultures.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
The film — violent, nihilistic, steeped in an ocean’s worth of fake blood — set off a minor moral panic.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
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
Locally and nationally, youth involvement in nihilistic violent extremism has accelerated since the COVID pandemic, data shows.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The nihilistic attachment between its doomed lovers, Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, was too stormy and unruly for my tastes.
—Radhika Jones, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, said the number of nihilistic violent extremists targeting children is growing nationwide.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Industry has a darker, more nihilistic worldview.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The non-profit also found a teenager who stabbed people outside a mosque in Turkey appeared to have been influenced by nihilistic subcultures.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
The film — violent, nihilistic, steeped in an ocean’s worth of fake blood — set off a minor moral panic.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilistic
Adjective
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Unfortunately, they have been taught to evaluate online communications with that cynical approach.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
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There's far more acceptance for shows trying to be different than ever before, whether the programme is cynical or hopeful in nature.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Washington — Americans are growing more pessimistic about the US economy as the war on Iran continues to roil markets, with sentiment falling across all income groups — including the wealthiest.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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Faced with yet another national crisis, many in Lebanon are pessimistic.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nihilistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilistic. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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