Words / C2

NEYE-il-iz-uh-m/ˈnaɪɪlɪzəm/

Nihilism is the doctrine that life is meaningless, or that moral claims have no ground (formal): moral nihilism, a slide into nihilism. Cynicism (cynical is already in the dictionary) doubts motives; it does not always deny value. Negative (already in the dictionary) is a lookalike, not a school of thought. Do not brand a safety protocol as nihilism because it forbids a slogan.

Meaning

The belief that life is without meaning, or that moral values have no basis (formal).

Examples

• “Calling every protocol “nihilism” does not license an empty n.”
• “Cynicism doubts people (cynical is already in C1). Anarchy is no ruler — a cousin in popular talk, not a twin. Negative is “no / minus” (already in the dictionary). Despair is a mood. A rule that names a fire door is not a denial of meaning. Skipping the n because “nothing matters” is the cheap version.”

Good to know

Rejection of meaning or morals (formal). Everyday gloss: “nothing matters”. Contrast: cynicism (doubts motives). Mix-up: negative. A protocol is not a void.

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