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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
-
In disbelief, Castaneda returned to Texas empty-handed.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Travelers across the country reacted with a mix of disbelief, gratitude and sadness as Spirit Airlines ceased operations, upending plans and marking the end of a carrier that, for many, had become a lifeline for affordable travel.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Enthusiasm for Harris and skepticism about her viability in 2028 aren’t mutually exclusive, said the former Harris fundraiser.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
The group, founded in 2019 to counter rising skepticism on the left toward the Jewish state, endorsed Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains for the seat in February.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
But in drawing upon those exact fields of study to reverse the long-term march toward unbelief, the authors appear to have missed the mechanism by which those prior discoveries eroded faith: namely, that people had staked their belief on evidence that was overturned by subsequent data.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Nonbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonbelief. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
