as in cynical
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Recent Examples of nihilistic
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
What began as a niche repertory experiment now spans nearly 100 theaters across 73 cities and eight countries, suggesting the Cinematheque’s gleefully nihilistic concept has tapped into a seriously underfed audience.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 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
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
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
What began as a niche repertory experiment now spans nearly 100 theaters across 73 cities and eight countries, suggesting the Cinematheque’s gleefully nihilistic concept has tapped into a seriously underfed audience.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilistic
Adjective
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Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
In season three, this argument has largely taken a cynical, nihilistic turn.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
When the voyeur and his subject begin physically to interact, there is low-key suspense, a hint of danger and a fatalistic romantic current fed by their growing mutual curiosity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
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
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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
Adjective
-
Gallup’s 2025 poll was the first time the organization found younger Americans to be more pessimistic than people in other countries about job prospects, and that trend looks primed to continue.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
13 May 2026
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More than 60% of the class of 2026 are pessimistic about their career prospects, according to a recent report from Handshake.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nihilistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilistic. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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