as in disbelief
refusal to accept something as true
a natural-born skeptic, she typically greets the latest conspiracy theory with head-shaking unbelief
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Recent Examples of unbelief
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
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
The historical abnormality of modern-day unbelief was a theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s in the years before, during, and after his pontificate.
—Katherine Howell, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
It’s been a bit of unbelief.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2021
His Dark Materials is a kind of romance of unbelief.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2019
When you have been taught, commanded even, to build your entire life around a community, the cost of unbelief is considerable.
—Amber Scorah, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2019
This problem of unbelief has plagued reformers for decades.
—Ervand Abrahamian, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2016
Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
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
The historical abnormality of modern-day unbelief was a theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s in the years before, during, and after his pontificate.
—Katherine Howell, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
It’s been a bit of unbelief.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2021
His Dark Materials is a kind of romance of unbelief.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2019
When you have been taught, commanded even, to build your entire life around a community, the cost of unbelief is considerable.
—Amber Scorah, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2019
This problem of unbelief has plagued reformers for decades.
—Ervand Abrahamian, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unbelief
Noun
-
What happened next resulted in pandemonium for Norwell and utter disbelief for Swampscott as Fein’s shot swished through the net to give the Clippers a 43-42 victory.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Hillary reacted with disbelief.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Student skepticism is being driven in part by faculty salaries within the academic affairs budget decreasing and the unknowns of new football stadium costs and financing.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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Rosa, another woman from Matanzas who arrived in Homestead two and a half years ago and asked to be identified only by her first name due to concerns for her family in Cuba, expressed skepticism about the prospects for meaningful change in Cuba.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Because there is little doubt that Canadiens management sees what their coach sees, and what anyone watching their team sees.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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There are also significant doubts there are enough Navy ships to escort commercial vessels, given that 60 or more tankers typically traverse the strait each day.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unbelief. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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