suspend (one's) disbelief
idiom
: to allow oneself to believe that something is true even though it seems impossible
The plot is ridiculous, but if you can suspend disbelief, it's an enjoyable movie.
If you want to enjoy this story, you have to suspend your disbelief.
Examples of suspend (one's) disbelief in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Viewers make the choice to suspend disbelief and go along with what’s onscreen.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2025
Any author must suspend disbelief at least as much as their readers, and the key to writing for teens is to treat their experiences as valid and important.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Scenic designer Michael Wogulis has also extended some elements of his scenery into the auditorium, encouraging audience members to suspend disbelief and come along for the ride.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The show is also full of real-life talking heads such as Savannah Guthrie, Wolf Blitzer and Nicole Wallace with Fox News and ABC banners popping up frequently to further suspend disbelief at the best and worst times in the Lesli Linka Glatter directed series.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Yet the balance Dead to Me struck was fragile; if the plot could get cartoonish, then the connection between the two leads, Cardellini and Christina Applegate, and the plausibility of their characters’ bond helped suspend disbelief.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
For viewers who can suspend disbelief and accept the premise of Powell’s character, a bland philosophy professor turned undercover operative, the rewards are plentiful.
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
When a crisis puts Sipsworth in danger, the resolution strains credulity, but Van Booy’s yarn proves so appealing that readers will suspend disbelief.
—Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 May 2024
The movies are, ideally, a place to suspend disbelief.
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2025
Any author must suspend disbelief at least as much as their readers, and the key to writing for teens is to treat their experiences as valid and important.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Scenic designer Michael Wogulis has also extended some elements of his scenery into the auditorium, encouraging audience members to suspend disbelief and come along for the ride.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The show is also full of real-life talking heads such as Savannah Guthrie, Wolf Blitzer and Nicole Wallace with Fox News and ABC banners popping up frequently to further suspend disbelief at the best and worst times in the Lesli Linka Glatter directed series.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Yet the balance Dead to Me struck was fragile; if the plot could get cartoonish, then the connection between the two leads, Cardellini and Christina Applegate, and the plausibility of their characters’ bond helped suspend disbelief.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
For viewers who can suspend disbelief and accept the premise of Powell’s character, a bland philosophy professor turned undercover operative, the rewards are plentiful.
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
When a crisis puts Sipsworth in danger, the resolution strains credulity, but Van Booy’s yarn proves so appealing that readers will suspend disbelief.
—Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 May 2024
The movies are, ideally, a place to suspend disbelief.
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Suspend (one's) disbelief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspend%20%28one%27s%29%20disbelief. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share