misbelieve
Hold wrong convictions
To misbelieve is to hold false or erroneous beliefs, particularly in religious matters.
The word is rare and literary, carrying an old-fashioned sense of doctrinal error or heresy: The priest warned against those who misbelieve.
More broadly, it can mean simply to believe wrongly about anything.
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
distrust · mistrust · wariness · cynicism · hesitation · reservation · dubiety · agnosticism
Erroneous belief or understanding
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- fallacyError in reasoning
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
false assumption · faulty reasoning · cognitive bias · misreading · misperception · wrong impression
False data spread unintentionally
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
lie · untruth · deception · propaganda · conspiracy · fake news · rumor · canard
Perception without external cause
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
wishful thinking · denial · chimera · mirage · psychosis · mania · obsession · false memory
incredulity
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
uncertainty · distrust · mistrust · wariness · cynicism · hesitation · reservation · dubiety · agnosticism · critical thinking
misconception
Erroneous belief or understanding
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- fallacyError in reasoning
misjudgment · false assumption · faulty reasoning · cognitive bias · misreading · misperception · wrong impression
misinformation
False data spread unintentionally
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
fabrication · lie · untruth · deception · propaganda · conspiracy · fake news · rumor · canard · tall tale
hallucination
Perception without external cause
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
self-deception · wishful thinking · denial · chimera · mirage · psychosis · mania · obsession · false memory · confabulation
misbelieveknow
Possess information with certainty
understand · apprehend · comprehend · believe · be right
misbelief, misbeliever, misbelieved, misbelieves, misbelieving