Definition

1. Noun:
   • Complete denial of all established authority and institutions: A viewpoint or philosophy that rejects all forms of political, religious, or moral authority as baseless.
   • The delusion that things (or everything, including the self) do not exist; a sense that everything is unreal: In a psychiatric or philosophical context, a belief in the non-existence of reality or a profound feeling of emptiness and meaninglessness.
   • A revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake: A political ideology, historically associated with 19th-century Russia, promoting the overthrow of existing social structures without a clear plan for what should replace them.

Usage Examples

• Denial of authority:
  • His nihilism led him to reject all government laws and social conventions.
• Sense of unreality/meaninglessness:
  • After the tragedy, she was overcome by a deep nihilism, feeling that nothing truly mattered.
• Revolutionary doctrine:
  • The group's manifesto was rooted in a violent nihilism that sought to tear down the state.

Advanced Usage

• Philosophical Nihilism: The belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.
  • The philosopher explored existential nihilism in his writings.
• Moral Nihilism: The meta-ethical view that no action is inherently moral or immoral.
  • Moral nihilism argues that ethical statements are neither true nor false.

Variants and Related Words

• Nihilist (noun): A person who believes in or advocates nihilism.
  • The character was portrayed as a cynical nihilist.
• Nihilistic (adjective): Characterized by or reflecting nihilism.
  • His nihilistic attitude made him indifferent to the consequences.

Synonyms

• Anarchy (in the context of rejecting authority).
• Cynicism (in the context of a negative, distrustful worldview).
• Negation.
• Pessimism.

Antonyms

• Idealism.
• Optimism.
• Faith.
• Constructivism.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Embrace the void: A phrase conceptually linked to nihilism, meaning to accept a perceived lack of meaning.
  • In his despair, he chose to simply embrace the void.
• Nihilistic despair: A state of profound hopelessness stemming from nihilistic beliefs.
  • The novel's theme is the protagonist's struggle with nihilistic despair.

Noun

1. complete denial of all established authority and institutions
2. the delusion that things (or everything, including the self) do not exist; a sense that everything is unreal
3. a revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake