[ni.hil.ism] n [G Nihilismus, fr. L nihil nothing--more at nil] (ca. 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 esp. of moral truths
2. a (1): 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 (2) cap: the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination b: terrorism -- ni.hil.ist n or adj -- ni.hil.is.tic adj