belief

noun

bə-ˈlēf How to pronounce belief (audio)
Definition of beliefnext
1
as in credit
mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon a belief in UFO's led him to relentlessly scan the nighttime skies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opinion
an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge it's my belief that the sky is blue because our eyes perceive the color blue easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word belief different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of belief are credence, credit, and faith. While all these words mean "assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance," belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer.

my belief that I had caught all the errors

When is credence a more appropriate choice than belief?

While in some cases nearly identical to belief, credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent.

a theory now given credence by scientists

When can credit be used instead of belief?

Although the words credit and belief have much in common, credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof.

gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witness

In what contexts can faith take the place of belief?

While the synonyms faith and belief are close in meaning, faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

an unshakable faith in God

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of belief If there are members of one's social group who hold beliefs contrary to a person's personal goals, think carefully about how much value their opinions hold. —Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026 Complete due diligence to safeguard your interests and future — rely on numbers, not belief. —Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026 That’s all because of a belief that Anthropic’s Claude can do your taxes with ease. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026 Popular belief says that when the heat comes, the foot wants total freedom. —Alex Sales, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief
  1. credit
  2. opinion
  3. faith
  4. mind
  5. axiom
  6. view
  7. certainty
  8. conviction
Noun
  • It's also barred from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus and required to erase debt in some cases.
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • For many, the math was already hard before the credits expired.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of credit
Noun
  • The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Ask your server for their opinion on the natural wines, or go for a low-key aperitivo.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of opinion
Noun
  • Unfortunately, faith is in short supply as the moon and Jupiter clash.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • At a balloon release in November 2024 honoring his memory, family members described Williams, who ran his own carpet-cleaning business, as a hardworking, kind, gentle man devoted to his family and faith.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of faith
Noun
  • Moreover, Trump's attempts to take credit for lower prices earlier in his term may link him to prices in voters' minds.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Nguyen was also the mind behind the mural’s postcard style, and its setting against the Santa Ana Mountains and a California sunset.
    — Victoria Le, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of mind
Noun
  • Proof of this axiom comes from the IRS and its publication of the latest (2023) migration numbers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Now that Chalamet is also dealing with the headache of his remarks last month to Matthew McConaughey about the lack of impact that ballet and opera have on modern culture, the first and most obvious lesson is that, to quote the old axiom, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
    — Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of axiom
Noun
  • Ho Tzu Nyen’s virtual reality installation Voice of Void, 2021, which was on view at Berlin’s Neugerriemschneider gallery this spring, offers a glimpse of such possibilities.
    — Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Set the scene Soaring at 1,000 feet above sea level on the St James hills, just a 10-minute drive from the heat and bustle of the west coast’s towns and beaches, Apes Hill offers a refreshing breeze and views of both the Caribbean and Atlantic.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of view
Noun
  • That gives stations some certainty over their cost over the weekend.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • While it can’t be said with complete certainty, current size estimates lean toward that description.
    — Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of certainty
Noun
  • While the misdemeanor child molestation count was vacated because of the issue involving the girl’s testimony, the appellate panel said there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and that Lopez could be retried on that count.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Following his 2018 conviction, Williams was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of conviction

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belied
belief
beliefs
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Cite this Entry

“Belief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belief. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on belief

Nglish: Translation of belief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about belief

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