disbelief

[ dis-bi-leef ]

noun

1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.
2. amazement; astonishment:

   We stared at the Taj Mahal in disbelief.

disbelief

/ ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf /

noun

1. refusal or reluctance to believe

Word History and Origins

Origin of disbelief¹

First recorded in 1665–75; dis- ¹ + belief

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. suspension of disbelief, the implicit convention requiring a reader, spectator, etc., to set aside their usual criteria for judging the reality or credibility of an experience in order to be be fully immersed in a fictional or fantastic reality: According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”

   The absurd plot in the last episode stretched our suspension of disbelief to the breaking point.

   According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”

Example Sentences

I’ve spent a lot of time since in utter disbelief at how wrong those assumptions turned out to be.

From Washington Post

The contrast shook Washington’s attorney general, Karl Racine, who seemed to be almost in disbelief on CNN Wednesday evening.

From ProPublica

Haley Stevens, a Democratic representative of Michigan, expressed her disbelief.

From Fortune

Fields lifted his hands to his helmet in disbelief after a miscommunication with his receiver led to Clemson’s game-sealing interception.

From Washington Post

In online chat groups and forums, political rage and disbelief metastasizes into calls for violence.

From Washington Post

The disbelief was evident in article after article, with one conservative site using “President Pinocchio” in its headline.

From The Daily Beast

But, even given the necessary suspension of disbelief, does it work?

From The Daily Beast

In fact, enjoying the show takes an extreme dedication to suspending disbelief.

From The Daily Beast

This may be precisely the point: that fiction at its best is a sphere of suspended belief as much as suspended disbelief.

From The Daily Beast

Daniels laughs at himself, once again shaking his head in disbelief.

From The Daily Beast

He hid himself in Assouan with belief for a companion, he came back and found that companion had been but a masquerader—disbelief.

From Project Gutenberg

So atheism, and the disbelief of the existence of the soul after death, characterized that materialism.

From Project Gutenberg

When a liar speaks the truth he finds his punishment in the general disbelief.

From Project Gutenberg

With or amongst the Romanists to leave the shore is an act of disbelief which must be atoned for by penance or punishment.

From Project Gutenberg

I stared at him in disbelief and said, "Oh, Mr. Spardleton, this is no time to play games with me."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• distrust
• incredulity
• mistrust