Synonyms for unbelief
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Disbelief
disbelief, incredulity, skepticism US, scepticism UK, distrust, doubt, suspicion
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
An absence (or rejection) of belief, especially religious belief.
Forms
- Plural
- unbeliefs → disbeliefs, incredulities, skepticisms, distrusts…
Choose the right word
As regards belief, while doubt is lack of conviction, disbelief is conviction, to the contrary; unbelief refers to a settled state of mind, generally accompanied with opposition of heart. In theological usage unbelief and skepticism have a condemnatory force, as implying wilful rejection of manifest truth.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- suspicion He became an object of suspicion to his neighbors.
- disbelief The aftermath of the war left many in disbelief.
- distrust True love knows neither suspicion nor distrust.
- incredulity The lover listened with obstinate incredulity.
- infidelity Sami's infidelity was his closely guarded secret.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| unbelief | rising | |
| suspicion | rising | |
| disbelief | rising | |
| distrust | steady | |
| incredulity | rising | |
| infidelity | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- doubt1
- 8 letters
- distrust2
- 9 letters
- suspicion3, disbelief3, nonbelief
- 10 letters
- skepticism4, infidelity5, scepticism
- 11 letters
- incredulity5
- 13 letters
- faithlessness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (distrust2 = 2 syllables).