nihilism
noun
ni·hil·ism
ˈnī-(h)ə-ˌli-zəm 
ˈnē-
ˈnē-
1
a
: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless
Nihilism is a condition in which all ultimate values lose their value.—
Ronald H. Nash
Ronald H. Nash
b
: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2
a
: a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility
b
capitalized
: the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination
Examples of nihilism in a Sentence
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A far cry from the gawky and boyish Norman Bates, B.Z. is a floppy-haired, closeted Hollywood player slowly dissolving in his own nihilism.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Recorded in a two-week burst not long before his 30th birthday, Cold Visions spiraled between euphoria and Promethean torment, pushing past nihilism and onwards to ego death.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 25 Feb. 2025
This insight is sort of nihilism lite, and a handy, if somewhat axiomatic, mantra for navigating the inanity of everyday life.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
This was a nihilism whose style was charming instead of intense, therefore hard to detect, but ultimately repellent, except to people who go for that sort of thing, which turns out to be a lot of people.
—Paul Berman, airmail.news, 9 Nov. 2024
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Recorded in a two-week burst not long before his 30th birthday, Cold Visions spiraled between euphoria and Promethean torment, pushing past nihilism and onwards to ego death.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 25 Feb. 2025
This insight is sort of nihilism lite, and a handy, if somewhat axiomatic, mantra for navigating the inanity of everyday life.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
This was a nihilism whose style was charming instead of intense, therefore hard to detect, but ultimately repellent, except to people who go for that sort of thing, which turns out to be a lot of people.
—Paul Berman, airmail.news, 9 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nihilism
Cite this Entry
“Nihilism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nihilism. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nihilism
noun
ni·hi·lism
ˈnī-(h)ə-ˌliz-əm
ˈnē-
ˈnē-
2
: skepticism as to the value of a drug or method of treatment
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