nihilistic

[ nahy-uh-lis-tik ]

/ ˌnaɪ əˈlɪs tɪk /

of or believing in nihilism, or the total rejection of established laws and institutions: An exhibition of nihilistic art—now there's an oxymoron!

embracing anarchy, terrorism, and destruction: nihilstic tactics learned in a terrorist bootcamp.

Philosophy. of or believing in an extreme form of skepticism; belief in nothingness.

Nearby words

Related formsni·hil·is·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·ni·hil·is·tic, adjectivenon·ni·hil·is·tic, adjectiveun·ni·hil·is·tic, adjective

Secretary of State John Kerry called the group, “ugly, savage, inexplicable, nihilistic, valueless evil.”
Don't Start a War Over a Hostage|Jacob Siegel|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That may be partially because The Big Lebowski is their most nihilistic presentation.
Dudes and Maudes Abide at New York City Lebowski Fest|Rich Goldstein|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are poached instead of hard-boiled, boasting anti-heroes with nihilistic worldviews who are nevertheless vulnerable.
‘True Detective,’ Obsessive-Compulsive Noir, and ‘Twin Peaks’|Jimmy So|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The answer is that it was not, being instead a series of dissociated gestures that flopped right into a nihilistic void.
Miley Cyrus: The Nadir of American Civilization?|Tunku Varadarajan|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They say they will “listen to the Web,” which was the central arena of their nihilistic campaign, “and decide what to do.”
The United States Can’t Insulate Itself From Euro Politics|Robert Shrum|February 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We feel the repercussion of his anguish when death was imminent for alleged participation in a nihilistic conspiracy.
Ivory Apes and Peacocks|James Huneker
The government has done much to stamp out the curse of nihilistic propaganda, and many members of the society have fled.
The Mission of Poubalov|Frederick R. (Frederick Russell) Burton
These theories were very bold in their negation, and it is for this reason that they have been called "nihilistic."
Contemporary Russian Novelists|Serge Persky
The result appears to be a sort of nihilistic sense-idealism.
Modern Skepticism|C. J. Ellicott
A nihilistic delusion is one which denies existence in whole or part.
Applied Psychology for Nurses|Mary F. Porter