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 Kaepernick says his meeting with Carroll and general manager John Schneider focused on his political beliefs. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history – as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth – will remain with me always. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 People may also often rely on the most available information or follow potentially misleading cues like how compelling someone sounds, their appearance or existing beliefs. — John C. Besley, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 The book centers on his belief that personal transformation can happen even before someone feels completely healed. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belief

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belief

Noun

When the internet is rife with influence and inspiration, who gets credit when someone is compelled to buy something online?

— Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
What makes Cypress Solar so valuable are the renewable energy credits Google will buy from Entergy.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of credit

Noun

In an unsigned opinion, a majority of the justices said the administration is likely to win its argument that the group suing to stop construction cannot show its been sufficiently harmed.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Capricorn December 22 – January 19 Someone close to you may arrive with urgency, opinions, and absolutely no interest in waiting.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of opinion

Noun

On his mind are various ideas for addressing social upheaval.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
While the settlement may put Meta investors' minds at ease for now, while setting a perhaps reassuring precedent for the rest of social media, analysts don't think the Mark Zuckerberg company is completely out of the legal woods.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mind

Noun

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
Yes, the Greeks made remarkable advances in mathematics, but mostly in geometry, which is about solid, stable objects and uses a strict hierarchy of axioms, rules, and procedures—very Platonic.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of axiom

Noun

And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete.

— Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards A key feature of the turn into September, which begins a year's third and final act, is that analysts and investors start to calibrate their views of next year.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of view

Noun

Caudle acknowledged the stress the Iran war has put on the US fleet and said the service would try to put more certainty into deployment times, but combat demands can make that difficult.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
There are plenty of clues on further cost of living support but no certainty yet on what will be announced.

— Marc Shoffman, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of certainty

Noun

Family says risks remain despite convictions The court also ordered about $223,500 in compensation for Inuma’s legal heirs and about $74,500 for Tapullima, the woman wounded in the attack.

— Steven Grattan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The artifacts cited in this particular conviction include a bust of Cleopatra, items from a princess’s grave and a stone slab affiliated with Tutankhamun.

— News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of belief

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