nihilistic

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 nihilistic The shooter's social media footprint fits into a new wave of online extremism and suggests he was involved in nihilistic violent extremist networks, which often aim to exploit children and teenagers and push them toward violence, experts told The Post. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025 The state of alienation that permeates and infuses Camus’ prose is the missing ingredient here and, without it, Meursault cuts a very different figure — less adrift in ennui and more intentionally nihilistic. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025 Before Dean Moriarty in On the Road and James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, there was Meursault, the nihilistic antihero of Albert Camus’ first novel, The Stranger (L’étranger), and one of modern culture’s original bad boys. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025 The director is at the top of his visionary nihilistic game in a movie about what’s happening to the world. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025 The concept of nihilistic violence – acts lacking an ideological motive and often driven by a need to gain approval in extremist online communities – remains a key conversation whenever a mass tragedy is carried out. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Consistency in one’s commitment to living by one’s own values — even profane, chaotic, nihilistic ones — feels rare right now. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nihilistic
Adjective
  • Huang, also a professional military strategist and university professor, told the Washington Examiner that his party sees the DPP’s posturing as a cynical move to build domestic support without considering the long-term consequences.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • That has often been misinterpreted as a cynical endorsement of warfare.
    Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The future, whether fatalistic or progressive, isn’t certain.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
  • To most modern peoples the idea would represent a secular analogue to quietism, fatalistic and Luddite.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no nihilist energy in the song.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Losing confidence in landing a job Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects of getting a new job.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Initial assumptions reacting to the April surge in volatility in the financial markets were broadly pessimistic.
    George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nihilistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nihilistic. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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