Definition of beliefnext

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 Watch for intense preaching or over-defending beliefs. Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026 However, this isn’t an entirely true belief. Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026 The belief that Trump has been following Nixon’s playbook in relation to Iran has been a staple of recent media analysis. Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 Miami passed on two very good prospects [Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain] to select Proctor, following through with a core belief of team building, which was made popular by a man Dolphins fans should be familiar with. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief
Noun
  • So, credit to everybody up and down the list.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
  • That’s pretty phenomenal; Arden even shares credit with the lighting designer, Jen Schriever.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Sun’s five-member editorial board consists of Jensen, publisher Trif Alatzas, opinion editor Philip Caldwell, and columnists Torrey Snow and Julian Baron.
    Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The opinions expressed in this story are his and not those of ABC News.
    Donald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • When the king talked about his Christian faith, GOP lawmakers were rowdier than Democrats, many of whom offered just tepid applause.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • One morning in 1976, the Princeton mathematician Edward Nelson woke up and experienced a crisis of faith.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Carly loves playing hostess, and designs interiors above all with socializing in mind—the conversation pit is one of her favorite midcentury tropes.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Andrillon warned against trying to harness the sleeping mind in the service of the waking world.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Andrea Riquier Among serious Fed-watchers, there’s an axiom that new central bank chairs usually face a crisis early in their term.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • An axiom can also be accepted for plenty of other reasons, as Maddy put it — such as for its power to generate interesting theorems.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Look closer, and a more sophisticated fear comes into view — one that the productivity data doesn’t address at all.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But, while Warsh may favor lower rates, there currently isn’t a convincing economic argument for easier monetary policy anytime soon — a view that three key Fed voters telegraphed at this meeting.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As exemplified through his company’s latest venture, Morton believes predictive intelligence will increasingly define competitive advantage, allowing agents to act with greater certainty and timing.
    William Jones, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Seeking certainty Traditionally, engineers have dealt with singularities through software fixes.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That same year Cindy's cousin testified before the Florida Legislature about the Death Penalty Reform Act, which in part sought to speed up executions to be carried out within five years of an inmate's conviction.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • In recent years, that includes a 2022 misdemeanor conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm, Cook County Circuit Court records show.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Belief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belief. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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