a withholding or lack of belief, esp. in religion or in certain religious doctrines
SYNONYMY NOTE: unbelief implies merely a lack of belief, as because of insufficient evidence, esp. in mattersof religion or faith; , disbelief suggests a positive refusal to believe an assertion, theory, etc. because one isconvinced of its falseness or unreliability; , incredulity implies a general skepticism or disinclination to believe
OPPOSITES: belief, credulity
Word origin
ME unbeleve
Examples of 'unbelief' in a sentence
unbelief
You might say he's the world's greatest believer in unbelief.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (2001)
It all seemed too vast and complicated and also I feel mildly ashamed for my unbelief.
Richard Wright 52449_CLARA (2001)
Quotations
To choose unbelief is to choose mind over dogma, to trust in our humanity instead of all these dangerous divinitiesSalman RushdieImagine No Heaven
Synonyms of 'unbelief'
atheism, scepticism, freethinking, godlessness
disbelief, scepticism, incredulity, doubt
More Synonyms of unbelief
1 (noun)
Its purpose was to study atheism and unbelief.
Synonyms
atheism
He pondered atheism before becoming a minister.
scepticism
freethinking
godlessness
irreligion
paganism
heathenism
nonbelief
2 (noun)
He wore on his face an expression of amazed unbelief.
Synonyms
disbelief
She looked at him in disbelief.
scepticism
incredulity
The announcement has been met with incredulity.
doubt
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
distrust
an atmosphere of distrust
mistrust
There was mutual mistrust between the two men.
dubiety
Opposites
trust
,
belief
,
faith
,
credence
,
credulity
Quotation
To choose unbelief is to choose mind over dogma, to trust in our humanity instead of all these dangerous divinities [Salman Rushdie – Imagine No Heaven]