What does "nihilist" mean?
A person who accepts or champions nihilism.
Nihilist
/ˈnaɪ.(h)ɪl.ɪst/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who accepts or champions nihilism.
- Grammar: nihilist is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: anarch, anarchist, anarchist, anarcho-syndicalist.
- Useful contrasts: affirming, conformist, established order.
- Usage evidence: Mary renounced her moral values and became a nihilist.
How to use "nihilist"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who accepts or champions nihilism.
"“Promortalists recognize and seek to minimize suffering rather than embrace misanthropy and amorality,” Keneally says, noting that the writings attributed to Bartkus indicate he rejected the “sociopath[ic]” tendencies of nihilists” in a May 2025 forum post. […] According to the ISD report, the disorganized and ever-changing nature of nihilist ideologies makes it harder to understand and counter."
- 2 an advocate of anarchism wordnet
- 3 An absolute skeptic; a person who believes in the truth of nothing.
- 4 someone who rejects all theories of morality or religious belief wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Mary renounced her moral values and became a nihilist."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nihilist"?
Common synonyms include: anarch, anarchist, anarchist, anarcho-syndicalist, animal, annihilator.
How do you use "nihilist" in a sentence?
Mary renounced her moral values and became a nihilist.
How do you pronounce "nihilist"?
Pronounced /ˈnaɪ.(h)ɪl.ɪst/.
Etymology
From Latin nihil (“nothing”) + -ist.