BELIEF Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

belief

noun

bə-ˈlēf

Definition of belief

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

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

fact
truth

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 His lyrics, his hooks, his unmistakable voice, his optimism, his belief in the power of a simple song to make people feel good. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Human beings have always had an extraordinary talent for turning images into objects of belief. — Raven Smith, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Even the most diehard fans admitted having had their beliefs tested. — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 My experience and belief is that the best stories come in at a glance like this, in a single visual image. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belief

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief

Noun

When the removal cannot be measured directly, the credibility of each credit rests on the model used to calculate it.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The Horned Frogs’ defense deserves a ton of credit for shutting down a Baylor offense that scored 55 points and rolled up 564 yards in its last game against Arizona State.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of credit

Noun

One of Bilton and Weiss’s signature new on-air hires is the conservative writer Ross Douthat, formerly an opinion columnist for the Times.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Much of its work, particularly on national security matters, remains shielded from public view, but some of the office’s conclusions have emerged in often dense legal opinions.

— Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of opinion

Noun

Goldhirsh and Bouchon say the payphones project has restored their faith in the country at what feels like a pivotal time.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
El-Sayed, who would be the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected, has been asked frequently about his faith and attacked for it.

— Erin Cox, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of faith

Noun

Most of these programs did not have physical forms in their original MCU incarnations, but appear in human form within the world inside Vision’s mind.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Normalcy bias means that despite all evidence to the contrary, our mind protects itself.

— Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of mind

Noun

What motivates voters Extensive research confirms the axiom that a sense of civic duty is the strongest predictor of whether someone will vote.

— Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of axiom

Noun

Some markets are allowing individuals to express views on economic, political or business outcomes, while others hone in on sports, entertainment and pop culture events.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of view

Noun

The Bears have asked for certainty for property taxes plus infrastructure and utility improvements.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Igshaan Adams’s The certainty of being a rose (ii), a sculpture made of beads, thread and textile, fetched £96,000 ($127,000) despite the auctioneer reminding bidders that proceeds would benefit environmental charities.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of certainty

Noun

Roberts said Ohtani’s conviction lined up with what the manager was hearing from the Dodgers hitting coaches and medical staff.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Kohberger filed a petition in July for post-conviction relief, asking for a trial and seeking to change his guilty plea.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conviction

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belied

belief

beliefs

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“Belief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belief. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of belief

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