Word
nihilism
Phoneticsni·hilism
US/ˈnaɪəˌɫɪzəm/
UK/nˈaɪəlˌɪzəm/
Definition
n. the belief that life has no real meaning or purpose, and that moral rules do not matter. You might hear this word when someone feels that nothing they do makes a difference in the end.
n. the philosophical doctrine that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. It frequently encompasses the rejection of established moral principles and religious beliefs.
Examples
“His sudden nihilism makes him believe that nothing in life truly matters.”
“After reading dark philosophy, he fell into a brief period of nihilism where he questioned the point of his entire career.”
“The novel explores the tension between youthful idealism and the creeping nihilism that infects the characters as they witness the senseless destruction of the war.”
Examples
simple
“His sudden nihilism makes him believe that nothing in life truly matters.”
contextual
“After reading dark philosophy, he fell into a brief period of nihilism where he questioned the point of his entire career.”
complex
“The novel explores the tension between youthful idealism and the creeping nihilism that infects the characters as they witness the senseless destruction of the war.”
Usage
Uncountable abstract noun; often paired with adjectives like 'creeping', 'moral', or 'existential'.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/nihilism