DISBELIEF

incredulity, disbelief, skepticism, mental rejection

(noun) doubt about the truth of something

unbelief, disbelief

(noun) a rejection of belief

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

disbelief (usually uncountable, plural disbeliefs)

Unpreparedness, unwillingness, or inability to believe that something is the case.

Astonishment.

The loss or abandonment of a belief; cessation of belief.

Synonyms

• incredulity

Antonyms

• belief

Source: Wiktionary

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Dis*be*lief", n.

Definition: The act of disbelieving;; a state of the mind in which one is fully persuaded that an opinion, assertion, or doctrine is not true; refusal of assent, credit, or credence; denial of belief. Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing. Tillotson. No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness that disbelief in great men. Carlyle.

Syn.

– Distrust; unbelief; incredulity; doubt; skepticism.

– Disbelief, Unbelief. Unbelief is a mere failure to admit; disbelief is a positive rejection. One may be an unbeliever in Christianity from ignorance or want of inquiry; a unbeliever has the proofs before him, and incurs the guilt of setting them aside. Unbelief is usually open to conviction; disbelief is already convinced as to the falsity of that which it rejects. Men often tell a story in such a manner that we regard everything they say with unbelief. Familiarity with the worst parts of human nature often leads us into a disbelief in many good qualities which really exist among men.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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