disbelieve
Refuse to accept
To disbelieve is to reject something as untrue or refuse to accept its validity: I disbelieve his account of what happened.
The word implies active skepticism rather than mere uncertainty—you've considered the claim and found it unconvincing.
Disbelieve often takes a direct object where doubt would not: you disbelieve a story, but doubt its accuracy.
Disposition toward doubt
- incredulityInability to accept something
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
uncertainty · hesitation · dubious · unconvinced · questioning · wary · qualm · reservation
Send away or reject
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- refuteProve something untrue
- repudiateReject as having no authority
- rejectDismiss as unsuitable
rebuff · denial · disavow · renounce · contradict · negate · invalidate · debunk
Request for information
- challengeTest of ability
- examineStudy with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- probeThorough examination or tool
interrogate · investigate · cross-examine · analyze · vet · fact-check · verify · test
Doubt about divine existence
- atheismRejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
infidelity · lapsed · secularism · freethinking · godlessness · impiety · nonbeliever · heathen
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- incredulityInability to accept something
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- distrustAbsence of confidence
misgiving · uncertainty · hesitation · dubious · unconvinced · questioning · wary · qualm · reservation · leery
dismiss
Send away or reject
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- refuteProve something untrue
- repudiateReject as having no authority
reject · rebuff · denial · disavow · renounce · contradict · negate · invalidate · debunk · disproof
question
Request for information
- challengeTest of ability
- examineStudy with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
probe · interrogate · investigate · cross-examine · analyze · vet · fact-check · verify · test · critique
agnosticism
Doubt about divine existence
- atheismRejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
heresy · infidelity · lapsed · secularism · freethinking · godlessness · impiety · nonbeliever · heathen
- DIS- wordsdisagree, disallow, disapprove, disarray, disappoint
disbelievebelieve
Accept as true
accept · have faith in · trust · credit · hold true
disbelievetrust
Confidence in another
believe in · rely on · credit · confide in · vouch for
- in disbelief
- suspend one's disbeliefAccept fiction as real temporarily
- suspending one's disbeliefAccepting fiction's impossible premises
- suspension of disbeliefTolerating fiction's implausibilities
- suspended one's disbeliefAccepted implausible premises temporarily
- willing suspension of disbeliefAccepting implausibility for enjoyment
disbelief, disbelieving, disbeliever, disbelieved, disbelievers, disbelieves, disbelievable