Meaning & use
disbelief
An inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real, often because it seems shocking or unlikely.
See it in a sentence
She stared at the winning lottery ticket in complete disbelief.
The audience gasped in disbelief when the magician made the car disappear.
A note on using this word
The phrase "suspend disbelief" describes a reader or viewer's willingness to accept unrealistic events for the sake of enjoying a story.
Words with a similar meaning
skepticismincredulity
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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