Synonym Chooser

How is the word belief different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of belief are credence, credit, and faith. While all these words mean "assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance," belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer.

my belief that I had caught all the errors

When is credence a more appropriate choice than belief?

While in some cases nearly identical to belief, credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent.

a theory now given credence by scientists

When can credit be used instead of belief?

Although the words credit and belief have much in common, credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof.

gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witness

In what contexts can faith take the place of belief?

While the synonyms faith and belief are close in meaning, faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

an unshakable faith in God

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belief Shintoism is an Indigenous animist belief system that predates Buddhism’s arrival in Japan, and Shinto sites of worship now exist comfortably alongside Buddhist temples. Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025 Rather than seeing wisdom as a distinct human aspiration, requiring its own calisthenics and cultivation, there persists a strange belief that intelligence and knowledge alone will lead, through some secret orthogenesis, to moral clarity. Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 They are typically mirrored and symmetrical, too, an expression of the core Kyrgyz belief in harmony. Annie Daly, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2025 Founded in 2022, the duo’s label centers around the belief in the power of self-expression and creativity. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for belief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief
Noun
  • Brunson just wants to help, and doesn’t seek the credit or publicity for it.
    Shane Young, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • But the rest of the credit unambiguously belongs to West German Krautrockers Popol Vuh, whose choir-organ score falls across the screen like a death fog.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Have an opinion on driving barefoot or other driving habits?
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Grant did not provide an opinion on what may have caused Nguyen to crash.
    Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This may include religious faith, spiritual beliefs, or simply the conviction that life has meaning larger than the material world.
    Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • But now, the church bells ring with a different weight, marking grief alongside faith.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Three of the five players who got in at 64 was enough to wonder which cup was on their minds.
    Doug Ferguson, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2025
  • While enjoying a lunch of some of my favorite vegetables Barbara Rolls came to mind.
    Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • To Know Every Nail To build a proof, mathematicians start with a sturdy foundation of assumptions, or axioms.
    Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
  • To prove those true statements, mathematicians would have to add a new axiom.
    Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Some founders previously pushed back against the trend, telling CNBC that the views are outdated and unnecessary to achieve success.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Her views on the war were under as much scrutiny as her tennis.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • There’s the expert take, the pressures on the Fed, and Powell’s words, which show less certainty and raise questions about what might happen with tariffs and inflation.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Rockets are dangerously close to the first apron at this point, and ironing out an Eason contract would give them more certainty on their upcoming financial layout, while also avoiding a potentially awkward situation.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • After the Supreme Court confirmed her conviction in the Vialidad public works corruption case, the two-term president and most popular figure within the pan-Peronist space has been barred from running.
    Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • However, that was delayed as her petition to appeal her criminal conviction is to be considered by the Supreme Court on Sept. 29.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Belief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belief. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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