n.
Pronunciation: ' n ī -(h) ə - ˌ li-z ə m, ' n ē -
Function: noun
Etymology: German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil nothing ― more at NIL
Date: circa 1817
1 a : a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b : a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a : a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility b capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination
– ni · hil · ist \ -list \ noun or adjective
– ni · hil · is · tic \ ˌ n ī -(h) ə - ' lis-tik, ˌ n ē - \ adjective