ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nihilism

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈnaɪəˌɫɪzəm// UK //nˈaɪəlˌɪzəm// ni·hilism Archaic

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.


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'.

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