anti-nihilist
|an-ti-naɪ-ə-list|
/ˌæn.tiˈnaɪ.ə.lɪst/
opposed to nihilism
Etymology
'anti-nihilist' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'nihilist'. 'Anti-' originates from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against', and 'nihilist' ultimately comes from Latin 'nihil' meaning 'nothing' with the agent suffix '-ist'.
'nihilist' entered English via French 'nihiliste' in the 19th century (from Latin 'nihil' 'nothing'), and combining 'anti-' + 'nihilist' produced 'anti-nihilist' in English to denote someone opposed to nihilism.
Initially, elements meant 'against' (anti-) and 'nothing' (nihil-); over time the combined term came to mean specifically 'opposed to the philosophical position of nihilism' rather than a literal opposition to 'nothing'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes or rejects nihilism; someone who argues against the philosophical view that life lacks meaning, value, or objective truth.
As an anti-nihilist, she wrote essays defending moral and existential meaning against nihilist claims.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
expressing opposition to or criticism of nihilism; characterized by rejecting nihilistic beliefs.
The novel takes an anti-nihilist stance, portraying hope and moral responsibility as central themes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/09 07:26