as in disbelief
refusal to accept something as true
my nonbelief in UFO's should not be construed as an unshakable belief in their nonexistence—I'm just waiting for proof
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Recent Examples of nonbelief
Government neutrality among faiths — and between belief and nonbelief — is foundational.
—
Brielle Miller, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
But Einstein also closed his letter with a sentiment that is often overlooked in the complicated and, in fact, wildly diverse landscape of American nonbelief, including atheism and its less strident cousin, agnosticism.
—Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2019
In the mid-2000s, atheist figures such as the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, a writer who has a doctorate in neuroscience, brought nonbelief into the public sphere—and onto the New York Times bestseller list.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2018
Yet, religious nonbelief is often heavily stigmatized, potentially leading many atheists to refrain from outing themselves even in anonymous polls.
—Scott Canon, kansascity, 1 May 2017
Brielle Miller, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
But Einstein also closed his letter with a sentiment that is often overlooked in the complicated and, in fact, wildly diverse landscape of American nonbelief, including atheism and its less strident cousin, agnosticism.
—Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2019
In the mid-2000s, atheist figures such as the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, a writer who has a doctorate in neuroscience, brought nonbelief into the public sphere—and onto the New York Times bestseller list.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2018
Yet, religious nonbelief is often heavily stigmatized, potentially leading many atheists to refrain from outing themselves even in anonymous polls.
—Scott Canon, kansascity, 1 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonbelief
Noun
-
Opposition politicians expressed disbelief that Starmer could have been unaware Mandelson had failed security vetting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
While back in Melrose Park, neighbors were in disbelief.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Outside Kyiv, thousands gathered at an open-air national heritage park to celebrate Easter despite skepticism that a truce would hold.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Ceasefire skepticism Outside Kyiv, thousands gathered at an open-air national heritage park to celebrate Easter despite skepticism that a truce would hold.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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My own passage into and back out of unbelief—one marked by a close reading of works that earlier illiberal societies had attempted to suppress on religious grounds—has strengthened my liberal commitments.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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But the indirect benefits seem to reflect a posture against green energy, related to unbelief in climate change, and these lead to support for inefficient energy alternatives like nuclear and geothermal and gas-fired turbines.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonbelief. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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