nihilism

/ˈnaɪəˌlɪzəm/
noun
  1. The belief that life has no meaning, purpose, or value; rejection of moral principles and religious beliefs.
    • His nihilism led him to feel that nothing he did mattered.
    • The character in the novel embraced nihilism after losing everything he cared about.
    • Some philosophers argue that nihilism can be a starting point for creating your own meaning.
  2. A political or revolutionary doctrine that calls for the destruction of existing social and political institutions.
    • The group's nihilism drove them to reject all laws and traditions.
    • Nihilism in that era was seen as a threat to the monarchy.
    • The 19th-century Russian nihilists wanted to tear down the old government.
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